Charges pending in python deaths of Barthe brothers in Campbellton

Charges are pending in connection with the strangling deaths of two boys by a python in Campbellton in 2013, say New Brunswick RCMP.

A 38-year-old Montreal man is scheduled to appear in Campbelltonprovincial court on April 27 at 9:30 a.m., Cpl. ChantalFarrahsaid in a statement on Friday.

"Details about the type of charge or charges and the identity of the individual will become publicat that time," said Farrah.

The man was arrested in theMontreal area on Thursdayand released later that day, she said.

Police have not identified the man, but lawyer Leslie Matchimhas confirmed it is his client, Jean-Claude Savoie, the owner of Reptile Ocean pet store in Campbellton.

Savoiewas the subject of a criminal investigation afterConnorBarthe, 6, and his brother Noah, 4,werekilled on Aug. 5,2013, by an African rockpython that escaped from itsenclosure in Savoie's apartment, located above the pet store.

The boys were attending a sleepover with Savoie's son, who was in another room and unharmed, police have said.

In July 2014, RCMP said they had turned the file over to Crown prosecutors. No charges were laid.

On Thursday, Farrah said the RCMP investigation into the boys' deaths has been ongoing and "furthered" to the point of an arrest being made.

Campbellton Deputy Mayor Ian Comeau says the latest developments on the case came as a surprise to city council.

"It's reopening old wounds," said Comeau.

The past 18 months have been difficult for the city, he said.

"We continued,and once in a while Iwould pass by the [Barthe brothers'] grandmother, or some people from the family and speak with them briefly, and the thing was doing its course, and that's what we want it to do," said Comeau.

"Let the RCMP finish their file, let the Crown prosecutors, let the task force complete what they have to do."

Autopsies determined the Barthe brothers died as a result of being asphyxiated by the snake, which weighed about 45 kg and was up to 4.5 metres long.

Officials have said they believe the snakemade its way through the top of its enclosure and into a ventilation system before falling through the ceiling and into the living room of the apartment where the boys were sleeping.

African rock pythons, non-venomous snakes that typically killbyconstricting theirvictims, are not permitted in New Brunswick, under the province'sExotic Wildlife Regulation, officials have said.

The only exceptions granted would be for accredited zoos, not for someone to keep an illegal exotic animal as a pet.

Reptile Ocean was an unlicensed zoo and pet store, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources officials have said.

Environment Canada assisted the Moncton SPCA in relocating the African rock python to Reptile Ocean in Campbellton in 2002.

A report from a task force, struck by theNew Brunswick Department of Natural Resourcesto review the provinces exotic animal laws and regulations and recommend changes to prevent future tragedies, is expected in March.