Hundreds of people gather outside Fredericton courthouse in support of St. Mary's First Nation man
A group of about 200 people shared in a drumming circle and held hands and signs outside Fredericton’s courthouse on Monday in support of a 71-year-old man who died on Friday.
Mark Albert Brooks, known by the St. Mary’s First Nation (Sitansisk) as Barnzie, was found with critical stab wounds around 11:10 p.m. Friday evening. Fredericton Police say they were responding to a “fight-in-progress.”
Two 17-year-olds appeared in Fredericton court on Monday via video conference for their bail hearings. Both hearings were adjourned until July 2 to allow the youth to secure counsel.
One has been charged with second-degree murder, the other with aggravated assault.
Brooks’ family, along with members of the community, stood outside afterward holding hands in a circle around the entire front of the courthouse.
People hold hands and form a circle outside of the Fredericton courthouse on Monday. (CTV/Laura Brown)Chief Allan Polchies Jr. says Brooks was an elder in the community, as well as a father and grandfather.
“Barnzie had a heart of gold, would never hurt anyone. This time of year he would offer to mow lawns, was always walking through the community,” Chief Polchies said.
Two people hug outside of the Fredericton courthouse as they show support for Mark Albert Brooks who died on Friday. (CTV/Laura Brown) He said the number of people who came out “in solidarity” shows how loved Brooks was.
“When we got word of it late Friday night you could just feel it in the community,” he said. “We just want to ensure that his children, his grandchildren, his family are supported.”
The two charged cannot be named as they are protected under the Youth Criminal Protection Act.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Biden and Harris call the Israeli strike killing Hezbollah’s Nasrallah a 'measure of justice'
The Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah was a 'measure of justice' for victims of a four-decade 'reign of terror,' U.S. President Joe Biden said Saturday.
LGBTQ2S+ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first openly lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave when her wife gives birth in the coming weeks.
SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year
SpaceX launched a rescue mission for the two stuck astronauts at the International Space Station on Saturday, sending up a downsized crew to bring them home but not until next year.
Scientists discover hidden ancient forest on treeless island
Trees haven't grown on the Falkland Islands for thousands of years. But tree trunks and branches preserved in peat suggest the islands were once home to a forest.
At least 52 dead and millions without power after Helene's deadly march across southeastern U.S.
Hurricane Helene caused at least 52 deaths and billions of dollars of destruction across a wide swath of the southeastern U.S. as it raced through, and more than three million customers went into the weekend without any power and for some a continued threat of floods.
What is open and closed this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This Monday, Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), a federal statutory holiday and day of remembrance for the Indigenous children who never came home from Canadian residential schools, as well as those who survived them.
They hit it off on vacation but then he went silent. So she decided to pick up the phone
When a few weeks passed and Nana Prempeh still hadn’t heard from the guy she met on vacation, she turned to her friends for advice.
Sima Sistani, who embraced Ozempic, is out as CEO of WeightWatchers
WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani, who pushed the company into embracing weight-loss drugs, is leaving the position after a two-and-a-half year stint.
Russia invokes its nuclear capacity in a UN speech that's full of bile toward the West
Russia's top diplomat warned Saturday against 'trying to fight to victory with a nuclear power,' delivering a UN General Assembly speech packed with condemnations of what Russia sees as Western machinations in Ukraine and elsewhere — including inside the United Nations itself.