Sentencing delayed for 1 of 6 charged in 2022 Saint John homicide

CBC
·2 min read
At the time of his death, police said Justin Breau died after being stabbed in his Charles Street apartment after three masked men broke in on Aug. 17, 2022. (Justin Breau/Facebook - image credit)
At the time of his death, police said Justin Breau died after being stabbed in his Charles Street apartment after three masked men broke in on Aug. 17, 2022. (Justin Breau/Facebook - image credit)

The sentencing for one of the six people charged in the 2022 death of Justin Breau has been delayed until next month.

Dustin Trey Walker-Hammond, 25, was scheduled to be sentenced in Saint John on Tuesday morning, but the court was told the presiding judge was not available. The sentencing was rescheduled for May 10.

Walker-Hammond was originally charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty in January to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

He will be the third person sentenced in the case after two others were dealt with earlier this month.

Travis Earl Boudreau, 34, and Sarah Jean Belzil, 37, were originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of Breau, 39, but pleaded guilty last month to being accessories.

Boudreau, who was given credit for 22 months served on remand, was given a conditional sentence of one year to be served in the community. The first six months will be served under house arrest and the final six months on a curfew of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Sarah Jean Belzil, 37, and Travis Earl Boudreau, 34, were sentenced earlier this month for their role in the 2022 death of Justin Breau.
Sarah Jean Belzil, 37, and Travis Earl Boudreau, 34, were sentenced earlier this month for their role in the 2022 death of Justin Breau.

Sarah Jean Belzil, 37, and Travis Earl Boudreau, 34, were sentenced earlier this month for their role in the 2022 death of Justin Breau. (Saint John Police Force and Travis Boudreau/Facebook)

Sarah Jean Belzil, 37, who spent 7½ months in jail on remand before being released on house arrest, was given a one-year conditional sentence to be served in the community. She was also given a curfew of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Because there are others awaiting a jury trial later this year on first-degree murder, there is a publication ban in effect until all other bans in the case are lifted. The ban prevents much of what has been heard in court from being published, including the details heard during Walker-Hammond's sentencing hearing in March.

At the time of his death, however, police said Breau died after being stabbed in his Charles Street apartment after three masked men broke in on Aug. 17, 2022.

Between January and March 2023, six people were arrested by Saint John police and eventually charged with first-degree murder.