Man accused of killing Dieppe couple to stand trial in early 2026

A man accused of killing a Dieppe couple almost six years ago will stand trial on the charges early next year. 

Janson Bryan Baker, 28, faces two charges of first-degree murder. It's alleged he killed Bernard Saulnier, 78, and his wife Rose-Marie Saulnier, 74, on Sept. 7, 2019.

Baker appeared Tuesday afternoon in Moncton's Court of King's Bench, where Justice Cameron Gunn scheduled the three-month jury trial to start Jan. 5, 2026. 

The time booked is a month shorter than the four months the Crown previously expected the trial would take. 

Gunn also said he would reserve court time between July and the end of September 2026 in case the trial needs to be rescheduled.

The judge also scheduled voir dires, hearings held to determine the admissibility of evidence, over several dates in July, August and November this year. 

Baker is scheduled to return to court June 25 for a pre-trial hearing to confirm that dates set still will work. 

The charges against Baker were laid in 2023 on the fourth anniversary of the discovery of the Saulniers' bodies in their Amirault Street home.

The case has moved slowly through court with various hearings about whether Baker could keep his previous lawyer, Nathan Gorham. Gorham withdrew from the case three weeks ago and Brian Munro became Baker's new lawyer.