Defence questions police processing of Moncton shooting scene

An RCMP forensics officer faced questions Thursday over his work at home in Monctonwhere a teenager died in 2022.

RCMP Sgt. Mitchell Perry was cross-examined on the eighth day of the jury trial of20-year-old Riley Phillips on a charge of second-degree murder.It's alleged he killed 18-year-old Joedin Leger on April 25, 2022, in Moncton.

The Crown alleges Leger was shot multiple times during a home invasion and robbery involving Phillips and five others.

Perry testified he photographed the Logan Lane home where Leger died, took swabs of items and possible blood, and examined the property for bullets. He also photographed items seized from other locations related to the investigation.

Phillips's lawyer, Brian Munro, asked a series of questions about why Perry focused on the exterior of the Logan Lane home, suggesting through several questions that red stains or objects wentunexamined.

Perry said information early in the investigation suggested the shooting happened outside the front door, where police and paramedics found Leger lying on the ground.

Munro asked whether thefocus on the exterior meant things inside may have been missed.

"Potentially," Perry said.

Munro pointed to photos showing untested red marks inside the home near a homemade gun, which the jury has heard held a spent .22 calibre casing. Blood was also found on the floor nearthe home's front door.

"That might suggest there was an exchange inside the house instead of the exterior?" askedMunro.

"That's possible," Perry said.

Perry said he didn't have a reason for not swabbing the red stain to test for blood, saying he may not have noticed it.

Asked if, in hindsight, whether he would've taken a closer look in the interior, Perry agreed he would.

The jury has heard a bullet recovered from Leger's body was fired by a .38 calibre revolver. Munro asked if any .38 calibre bullets orcasings were found in or outside the home. Perry said none were found.

Perry's testimony concluded Thursday morning.

Justice Robert Dysart told the jury that the lawyers would be discussing an issue in the afternoon and sentthem home for the rest of the day.

The trial is scheduled to resume Monday.