In his opening remarks on Monday, Crown prosecutor Christopher Ryan told a jury his case will prove the two men charged in the death of Justin Breau kicked in his door in the middle of the afternoon on Aug. 17, 2022, and “immediately” attacked him.
Charles William Shatford, 49, and Donald Robert Walker, 51, are on trial for first-degree murder in Breau’s death.
Outlining his case to the jury, Ryan said Breau was in jail on drug charges when he found out his girlfriend had developed a relationship with Walker.
Earlier on the day he was killed, Breau had warned Walker to stay away from his girlfriend.
Shatford, on the other hand, had a well-known connection with Breau. Breau shot and killed his half-brother Mark in 2019, although Breau was found not guilty by a jury in 2020 after claiming self-defence in a drug deal gone wrong.
“Against that backdrop,” Ryan told the jury, the Crown believes the two men got together to formulate a plan to kill Breau.
Charles Shatford was charged with the first-degree murder of Justin Breau in January 2023. He has been in custody ever since his arrest. (Charlie Shatford/Facebook)
By 3:48 p.m., on Aug. 17, 2022, the two men left with a group of other people and drove to Breau’s Charles Street apartment, Ryan said.
They parked and “individuals that included” Shatford and Walker “forced their way” into the apartment armed with knives and “immediately” stabbed Breau “multiple times,” according to Ryan.
On Monday afternoon, the jury heard a 911 call entered as evidence by the Crown.
The caller identified herself as Megan Ross, Breau’s girlfriend.
Breau’s mother Susanne cried quietly as she heard the recording, which included an emotional Ross calling out to Breau.
Ryan also told the jury that Shatford initially denied any involvement in the killing, but later said he was one of the attackers. He said sneakers seized from Shatford later tested positive for blood and Breau’s DNA.
At the time of Justin Breau’s death, police said three masked men in dark clothing forced their way into an apartment in this building on Charles Street, where Breau was stabbed to death. (Graham Thompson/CBC)
He said sneakers seized from Walker also tested positive for blood and Breau’s DNA.
There are 25 days set aside for the trial with roughly 30 witnesses expected to be called, including four people initially all charged with first-degree murder, who have pleaded guilty to lesser offences related to Breau’s death.