2 Bathurst police charged in Michel Vienneau's death begin preliminary hearing

The preliminary inquiry into the case of two Bathurst police officers charged in the shooting death of Michel Vienneau began Tuesday.

Const. Patrick Bulger, 38, of Beresford and Const. Mathieu Boudreau 26, of Dunlop attended the hearing with their spouses. Both are charged with manslaughter as well as other charges.

In addition toBulger,Boudreau, and their families, dozens of police supporters filled the courtroom, along with several reporters.

Vienneau'sfamily, including his brother, sat in the first row of the courtroom Tuesday, across from the defendants. The family exchanged several knowing glances during the testimony.

Any testimony heard in court during thepreliminary inquiryis subject to a publication ban and cannot be reported.

Vienneaudied on Jan. 12, 2015 when he was shotin the parking lot of theVia Rail station inBathurstafter getting off a train from Montreal.

Vienneau's partner absent

Annick Basque, Vienneau's partner, who was with him when he died, was absent. She has yet to appear in Bathurst court, though she has filed two different civil lawsuits related to the case.

In court documents filed in connection with a lawsuitsagainst the city of Bathurst for negligence, MathieuBoudreau is identified as the officer who shot Vienneau.

In the same documents, it was revealed Bathurst police were acting on a Crime Stoppers tip when they stopped Vienneau and Basque coming off a train from Montreal.

Nova Scotia RCMP also told reportersafter they completed their investigation into the incident, that theyfound Vienneau was not involved in any criminal activity.

Officers Boudreau and Bulger are each charged with manslaughter with a weapon, assault with a weapon, and unlawfully pointing a firearm.

TJ Burke of Fredericton is representingBulger, whileBoudreauis represented by BrianMunro fromSaint John

While the matters are separate, both defence lawyers are able to question witnesses while they are on the stand, to save time.

Judge AnneDugas-Horsmanagreed to the arrangement.

The preliminary hearing runs until Friday, and will break until September 9-6, before concluding October 4-7.