'I want to see him': Father of Dieppe, N.B., murder victim speaks
When Rick Boudreau arrived at court Monday morning, he didn't know if he would see the man accused of killing his son in person.
Boudreau stopped and talked to reporters outside the Moncton law courts about what life has been like since his 24-year-old son Max's body was found on Nov. 22, calling the last few weeks “unimaginable.”
Max Boudreau, 24, of Moncton, N.B., was reported missing to police on Nov. 17, 2022. (Facebook)
"It’s not real –- it’s surreal. Coming here today was probably the hardest thing I've done,” said a visibly upset Boudreau. “This is the first time that it really... It draws the picture. It becomes real more than we know. Pure hell."
Justin Barrow, 42, of Moncton, has been charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 15 death of Max Boudreau.
Barrow was scheduled to make his court appearance by phone Monday morning, but it was pushed until the afternoon at the request of the prosecutor who wanted him present in the courtroom.
That was fine with Boudreau.
"I want to see that guy. I want to look him in the eyes. I want to see him. I want him to see me. Us, not just me. There's a whole whack of friends and family that absolutely loved that guy," said Boudreau.
In a packed courtroom, Boudreau leaned forward and stared at Barrow during the appearance, but the accused kept his eyes squarely on the judge.
The brief appearance ended in a matter of minutes with Barrow's lawyer asking for disclosure of the Crown's evidence. The accused is scheduled to appear again on Jan. 23, this time via telephone.
Not knowing what happened the night of his son's death has been a struggle for Boudreau.
Max Boudreau was last seen leaving a Dieppe bar around 3 a.m. on Nov. 15. He was reported missing to police two days later on Nov. 17.
His remains were found in a wooded area in a new subdivision in Irishtown, just north of Moncton, on Nov. 22.
" I think that is the worst, is not knowing -- not knowing any details at all,” said Boudreau, when asked what he knows about his son's death. “I absolutely understand the RCMP can not divulge any information, but not knowing anything is probably the hardest thing."
Boudreau was glad to see many of Max's friends at court on Monday to show their support. He remembers his son as a fun-loving young man.
"His laugh -- it was infectious," he said. "His smile, his eyes. Everything about him."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Liberal government survives confidence vote
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has survived his first confidence vote of the fall sitting. Members of Parliament voted on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's attempt to bring down the Liberal government after question period on Wednesday, and the non-confidence motion was defeated.
'It is time to leave': Joly to meet with Lebanese PM amid Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she will meet with Lebanon's prime minister in New York on Saturday amid the escalating conflict between Israel and militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
'She was victimized by a predator': B.C. court reverses transfer of $1.4M townhouse in elder abuse case
A man who "systematically isolated, manipulated, deceived, abused, and exploited" an elderly North Vancouver woman has lost his ownership stake in her home.
Trudeau accuses Conservatives of 'casual homophobic comments' in question period
With a confidence vote looming, debate in the House of Commons devolved on Wednesday into a heated exchange of accusations, seeing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggest Conservative MPs made 'casual homophobic comments.'
Doug Ford says he wants to build a tunnel under Hwy. 401
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to build a tunnel under Highway 401 that would stretch from Brampton to Scarborough.
Yogurt recalled in Canada over risk of illness
A major yogurt maker is recalling one of its brands in Canada over concerns that it may cause illness in immunocompromised people.
Pope expels a bishop and 9 other people from a Peru movement over 'sadistic' abuses
Pope Francis took the unusual decision Wednesday to expel 10 people – a bishop, priests and laypeople -- from a troubled Catholic movement in Peru after a Vatican investigation uncovered 'sadistic' abuses of power, authority and spirituality.
Tearful complainant alleges Jacob Hoggard raped, choked her after Hedley concert
GRAPHIC WARNING: A woman accusing Jacob Hoggard of sexual assault in northern Ontario told his trial the musician raped, hit and choked her before urinating on her in a hotel room after she attended his band's concert and an after-party eight years ago.
Amadeus? Amadeus!: Lost childhood manuscript of Mozart discovered in Germany
Careful listeners of Mozart may notice an unfamiliar melody attributed to his childhood works in their streaming feeds this week.