Murder charge withdrawn after accused dies in psychiatric hospital in Campbellton

The Crown is withdrawing a second-degree murder charge after the accused was assaulted at a psychiatric hospital in northern New Brunswick and later died.

Ronald Savoy, 49, was charged with murder in the death of38-year-old Serge Chamberlain of Campbellton in 2021.

RCMP previously said they found Chamberlain's body outside ahome on Tingley Crescent in Campbellton, and later arrested Savoy and charged him.

Savoy had been going through prosecutionsince the summer of 2021.

RCMP have said he was assaulted at a medical facility on Nov. 16 and died of his injuries at the Campbellton Regional Hospitalon Dec. 23.

Days later,Vitalit Health Network confirmed the medical facility where Savoy was assaulted was the Restigouche Hospital Centre.

Restigouche is a psychiatric hospital thatprovidesspecialized services, including forensic psychiatry and examinations to determine a person's fitness to stand trial. The heath authority also confirmed Savoy was a patient there.

On Thursday, at a brief hearing at the Campbellton Court of King's Bench, Crown prosecutor Louis Plourdesaid he had to inform Chamberlain's family of the developments first, before withdrawing the charge.

"That's why we needed to wait until today before proceeding," he said.

Justice Larry Landry said theonly way to proceed is to accept the Crown's motion to withdraw the charge.

"Itwill mean that the file will be closed forever," Landry said.

RCMP have previously said a 25-year-old man was arrested forallegedly assaulting Savoy. Police have not released the man's name, or said why he was also at Restigouche. Police and Vitalitalso said they will not disclose why Savoy was at the hospital centre.

On Thursday, RCMPSgt. Pierre Chiasson said the 25-year-old has not yet been charged in relation to this case. He saidRCMPare investigating Savoy's death as a homicide.