The man who owned a giant python that strangled two boys to death in Campbellton wants to speak out about the tragic incident.

But a lawyer has told Jean-Claude Savoie to stay silent as police investigate the deaths of Noah Barthe, 4 and Connor Barthe, 6.

Savoie made a few comments on Aug. 5 – the same day the boys were found – but has remained silent since then.

No criminal charges have been laid and Reptile Ocean is no longer a crime scene, but the store has remained closed since the incident and Savoie has sought out legal advice.

Lawyer Leslie Matchim says Savoie has wanted to speak out to express his own sadness about what happened.

“But we’ve asked him to contain those thoughts, though I am aware that he has had personal contact with the victims’ family, and we know that has been very helpful to him and, we hope, the victim’s family,” says Matchim.

The Barthe brothers were found dead in an apartment the morning of Aug. 5 after a 100-pound African rock python escaped its enclosure in the apartment, entered the ventilation system and fell through the ceiling into the room where they were sleeping, police said.

Early autopsy results show that the boys were asphyxiated by the snake.

The brothers were sleeping over at their friend's apartment, which is located above the exotic pet store. Savoie owns the pet store and lives in the apartment with his son.

Provincial officials say the African rock python involved in this case was not permitted in New Brunswick.

On Friday, officials removed 27 reptiles from the store that are banned in the province without a permit. Four American alligators were also euthanized on site.

Bruce Dougan, the manager of the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton said the alligators were euthanized because no accredited zoos were willing to take in the animals.

The zoo has since welcomed tortoises from the store and employee Bernie Plourde says they are in good shape.

“So, when we’re looking at it, I can tell right away they’ve been getting the right food,” says Plourde. “What they’ve been doing is they’ve been growing properly.”

Police are investigating the boys’ deaths but declined to comment on the case.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore