Saint John pair sentenced for role in 2022 death of Justin Breau

Two people charged after the 2022 homicide of a Saint John man have been sentenced for their part in his death and neither is getting any more jail time.

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

After a sentencing hearing on Friday afternoon, Court of King's Bench Justice Darrell Stephenson sentenced Boudreau, who was given 22 months credit for time served on remand, to 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, who spent 7 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.

Both were ordered to have no contact with the four other people charged and to participate in counselling or treatment as directed.

Because there are others awaiting a jury trial 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 was heard in court on Friday from being published, including the details of an agreed statement of facts between the Crown and defence.

At the time of Breau's death, however, police said he suffered fatal injuries when he was 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. They were:

• Charles William Shatford, 48.
• Donald Robert Walker, 51.
• Travis Earl Boudreau, 34.
• Sarah Jean Belzil, 37.
• Evan Louis Tobias, 29.
• Dustin Trey Walker-Hammond, 25.

By last month, three of them, including Boudreau and Belzil, pleaded guilty to lesser charges. In January, Walker-Hammond pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He's scheduled to be sentenced on April 23.

On Friday, Breau's mother, Susanne Breau, read the only victim impact statement in the case. She said her son "should have been safe in his own home."

She said his death left two of his three children without parents, since their mothers arealso dead. She said she worries about dying before her youngest grandchild turns 18.

She's had to "be strong for my grandchildren," Breau said. "I am also full of anger. I will not rest or grieve until all involved are sentenced for their involvement in this brutal and senseless killing."

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Breau took serious objection to the way Boudreau behaved in court on previous court appearances and said there's "no decency in you."

When she said he had lacked good role models in his life, a woman in the courtroom shouted her objections and was immediately escorted out.

As for Belzil, Breau said, "You're supposedly a mother I hope you never have to experience what my family experienced."

She said Belzil had had an intimate relationship with her son and a "moral obligation" to do something and "did nothing."

Breau wrapped up by saying, "All I want to say is I find both of you despicable."

Several weeks have been set aside later this year for a jury trial for the three men who remain charged with first-degree murder.