Despres told border officials he was a trained sniper

A U.S. border guard testified Friday that Gregory Despres said he was a sniper returning home from an assignment as he crossed the border at Calais, Maine.

John Chambers, border officer with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, also toldtold the Court of Queen's Bench in Frederictonthat something felt off when Despres arrived at the border but he was unable to hold him.

Despres, 25, is on trial for two counts of first-degree murder inthe deaths of his elderly neighbours. He has pleaded not guilty.

Fred Fulton, 74, and Verna Decarie, 70, were found dead in their Minto, N.B., home on April 26, 2005. Both had beenstabbed repeatedly and Fulton was decapitated.

Despres was stopped while walking across the border between St. Stephen, N.B., and Calais on April 25.

He was carrying a bag of weapons that included a homemade sword, brass knuckles, a knife, pepper spray, a chainsaw and a hatchet, Chambers told the court.

Despres claimed he was aU.S. trained marine sniper who was going home after meeting someone he called "Captain Beck" in Canada, Chambers said. Despres also repeatedly asked to be called a lieutenant.

Guards seized the weapons, and photographed and fingerprinted Despres.

"Mr. Despres was quite proud to pose for these photographs," Chambers said, referring to a headshot and picture of swastika tattoo on his shoulder that were entered as evidence.

Chambers said he also did a criminal record check on Despres.

It showed that he was scheduled to appear in a New Brunswick court that day to be sentenced for an assault related to a fight with Fulton's grandson in which Despres pulled a knife and uttered threats.

Despres denied he had to appear in court that day, Chambers said, and was adamant that he was not returning to Canada.

Could not be detained

The border guard said even though he knew that Despres would not be making the court appearance, he could not be detained at the border because there was no warrant for his arrest.

A naturalized American citizen, Despres held a valid U.S. passport.

Chambers said he gave Despres more scrutiny than he normally would.

Despres was kept at the border for approximately three hours before being allowed to continue on his way.

The bodies of Fulton and Decarie were found on the evening of April 26, 2005 — three days after their deaths and a day after Despres crossed the border.

Despres was arrested in Massachusetts on April 27, 2005.

This is Despres's second trial. It is being heard by judge alone.

His first trial was halted in February after he exhibited bizarre behaviour in the courtroom. After a psychiatric assessment, he was declared unfit to stand trial in April and ordered to undergo treatment for paranoid schizophrenia.

In July, a provincial review board ruled Despres had responded well to psychiatric treatment, understood the court proceedings and the charges against him, and was fit to stand trial again.