Advertisement

Killer Gregory Despres ordered to remain in N.B. secure psychiatric facility

Gregory Allen Despres, the New Brunswick man accused of killing his two elderly neighbours, and beheading one of them, arrives at court for his second murder trial in Fredericton on Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

A New Brunswick man who was found not criminally responsible after brutally killing his elderly neighbours in 2005 has been ordered to remain under treatment in a secure psychiatric facility.

A trial in 2008 determined Gregory Despres was suffering delusions and schizophrenia when he killed 74-year-old Fred Fulton and 70-year-old Verna Decarie in their Minto, N.B., home.

Both were stabbed to death and Fulton was decapitated with a homemade sword.

During a hearing today in Moncton, N.B., the New Brunswick Review Board was told there has been no real change in Despres’s condition and that he constantly refuses treatment.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Psychiatrist Dr. Louis Theriault says Despres, 38, should remain at the Shepody Healing Centre at Dorchester Penitentiary because he would be a risk to society if released into the community.

Story continues below advertisement

The board is to meet again before the end of this year to discuss a possible transfer of Despres to the Restigouche Hospital Centre in northern New Brunswick.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Mar. 17, 2021.

Click to play video: 'N.B. launches mental health review after teen’s death'
N.B. launches mental health review after teen’s death

Sponsored content

AdChoices