FREDERICTON – A review board has refused to grant new privileges to the man found not criminally responsible for the 2018 murders of four people in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Matthew Raymond is being held at the Restigouche Hospital Center in Campbellton. Last December, Judge Larry Landry, of the Court of Queen’s Bench, found Raymond “at high risk” and ordered him to be held in a high-security hospital.
On August 10, 2018, Raymond shot dead two civilians, Donnie Robichaud and Bobbie Lee Wright, then municipal police officers Sara Burns and Robb Costello, who came to the scene. During the nine-week trial for four first degree murders, the defense successfully argued that Raymond suffered from a mental illness – he believed he was defending himself against demons that day.
As provided by law, a provincial review board was to hold a hearing and render a new decision within 90 days of the court’s decision to detain Raymond in a hospital. Hearing attendees, including Raymond, his mother Shirley Raymond and members of the hospital’s medical team, were linked by videoconference on Wednesday.
In his report, written on March 1, psychiatrist Ralph Holly said Raymond was following his treatment plan, but still posed a threat to society. According to Dr. Holly, the accused can walk around the unit where he is being held, but he asked the review board for additional privileges, including escorted outings outside the hospital.
In his December order, Judge Landry specified that Raymond was to remain detained at the Restigouche hospital and not be able to leave unless “a structured plan had been prepared to face any risk”. However, the review board concluded Wednesday that such a plan had not been prepared and that, therefore, the additional privileges were denied.
The commission, however, agreed to allow Raymond’s mother to visit him at the hospital, now that New Brunswick has returned to the “yellow zone” of its sanitary measures.
Raymond had the opportunity to speak at the hearing on Wednesday to say that he was “really sorry” for what had happened. “I am sad for the deceased and I am sad for the families, and I think about them all the time. They are precious people to me, ”he said.
Members of the review board said eight victim impact statements were submitted to it, but none were read aloud during the hearing on Wednesday.
The review board will now have to meet annually to review the tribunal’s decision. Crown Prosecutor Claude Hache unsuccessfully requested that this period be extended to three years, but the commission recalled that the psychiatrist’s report indicated a potential for improvement in Raymond’s condition.
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