New Brunswick

Case of alleged murder in Pointe-Sapin delayed to mid-August

Alphonse Daigle of Pointe-Sapin was charged with first-degree murder following the death of André Després in April of this year.

Judge grants adjournment based on defence's need for more time to review disclosure documents

The sun shines on the main sign on the Moncton Law Courts building. The sign reads, Palais de Justice Moncton Law Courts.
Moncton provincial court heard the defence needed more time to review Crown evidence against Alphonse Daigle, charged with first-degree murder in the death of André Després. (Katelin Belliveau/CBC)

The case of a 70-year-old Pointe-Sapin man charged with first-degree murder has been delayed another month.

Alphonse Daigle is accused in the homicide of André Després, 52, whom police found dead when they responded to a shooting in April at a residence in Pointe-Sapin, about 130 kilometres north of Moncton.

Daigle appeared Tuesday in Moncton provincial court, where a date for a preliminary hearing was expected to be set.

Instead, Judge Paul Duffie granted an adjournment until Aug. 16. 

Daniel Gallant, a defence lawyer who appeared as an agent for TJ Burke, said the defence received disclosure documents just a day earlier and needed more time to review them.

Gallant also requested the case continue in English, instead of in French.

Daigle first appeared in court on April 16, three days after Després died, and was to appear again in mid-May but the case was delayed then as well.

Family members and friends of the victim filled two rows in the courtroom.

After court, Gallant said that the defence has a right to have sufficient time to review evidence, and that certain delays are a typical part of the court process.

He confirmed Daigle will appear in court in person again in August, when a date for the preliminary hearing is expected to be set.