On Aug. 27, the second individual involved, Benjamin Côté, also appeared in the Court of King’s Bench in Edmundston and was sentenced to life imprisonment, without the possibility of parole for 14.5 years.
On Aug. 15, 2021, at approximately 8:40 a.m., members of the Saint-Léonard RCMP responded to a report of an unresponsive man on Rue Industrielle. When police arrived, they discovered the body of a deceased man.
The investigation determined that the man’s death was the result of a homicide. He was later identified as 60-year-old, Rino St.Pierre, from Rivière-Verte, N.B.
On August 27, 2023, a 44-year-old man was in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, in connection with the investigation.
On August 28, Benjamin Côté appeared in Edmundston Provincial Court by way of tele-remand and was charged with first degree murder of Rino St.-Pierre. He was remanded into custody pending a future court date.
On August 29, a 41-year-old woman was arrested in St-Francois Xavier, Quebec in connection with the investigation.
On Aug. 29, Angie LeClerc from St-Antonin, Quebec, was also charged with first degree murder in relation to the death of Rino St.-Pierre. She remains in custody, and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 14, 2023.
The investigation is ongoing.
