Murder of Fred Fulton and Verna Decarie
On March 5, 2008, their neighbour, Gregory Allan Despres, was found guilty for the murder, but not criminally responsible for his actions at the time due to having suffered paranoid schizophrenia-led delusions.
On the evening April 23, 2005, Despres left his trailer and traveled a short distance on foot to the residence of Fred Fulton and Veronica Decarie.
While it was originally reported to the media that Despres had thrown Fulton's head out the back door, it was actually found under the kitchen table in a pillowcase.
[4] In a hearing that same year in Moncton, the New Brunswick Review Board noted no change in Despres's condition, adding that he constantly refuses treatment.
He presented himself to the U.S. border guards while carrying a homemade sword, a hatchet, a knife, brass knuckles and a chainsaw stained with what appeared to be blood.
Joseph Gutheinz, a University of Phoenix criminal justice professor said they could have arrested Despres for lying to a customs officer.
During a routine check for outstanding warrants, it was found that Despres was expected in court that day in Fredericton, New Brunswick for an assault on Fulton's son-in-law in August 2004.
The day prior, Fulton's daughter discovered the bodies of her father and Decarie at their residence in Minto, New Brunswick.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) quickly suspected Despres and learned later he had been arrested in the United States and was currently jailed in Boston.
On February 1, Despres lashed out at his new lawyer, Ed Derrah, accusing him of working for Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.
Another expert testified that Despres was in fact fit to stand trial and that medication could help any mental disorder he was facing.
On July 11, 2007, Despres was brought before the provincial mental health review board which found that he had responded well to treatment and was in fact fit to stand trial.
On day three, Fulton's grandson, Fred Mowat, testified before the court that his grandfather feared Despres and often required medications to sleep at night.
On November 16, the court adjourned Despres' trial until January 2008, allowing counsel time to prepare expert witnesses.
On January 28, 2008, the trial continued with defense presenting Despres' mother and Dr. Scott Theriault, a psychiatrist, as witnesses.
The testimony and evidence given went to the issue of whether the defendant's mental state could allow him to be criminally responsible in the case he did commit the murders.
[11] On March 5, 2008, Justice Grant found Gregory Despres guilty of causing the deaths of Fred Fulton and Verna Decarie in 2005.
