Philippe Hébert gets 13 years for killing his father in northeast N.B.

A northeast New Brunswick man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison on a manslaughter charge for killing his father, longtime journalist Réjean Hébert, in 2022.

Philippe Hébert, 31, was sentenced during an appearance in Bathurst court Friday morning. 

Hébert admitted killing Réjean Hébert, 60, at the father's home in Saint-Simon, southeast of Caraquet, on Dec. 29, 2022.

Hébert had faced a second-degree murder charge. He pleaded guilty in February to the lesser charge of manslaughter and a charge of indecency to a body. 

Réjean Hébert was a veteran French-language journalist who worked as the news director at the CKRO Radio Péninsule station for nearly 30 years. He also wrote several gardening books.

On Friday, Court of King's Bench Justice Marco Cloutier accepted the sentence for Philippe Hébert jointly recommended by Crown and defence lawyers. 

The sentence will be reduced by three years and three months as credit for the time Hébert has already spent in custody since his arrest.

Hébert addressed the court Friday, apologizing to his family. He said he had struggled with his mental health and substance use for years. 

The victim's brother, Guy Hébert, read a victim impact statement Friday, saying the family has suffered anxiety and stress. Guy Hébert said the lives of family members would be in danger if Philippe Hébert is released.

An agreed statement of facts read when Philippe Hébert pleaded guilty says the father and son had a "tumultuous" relationship, Radio-Canada previously reported. 

According to the agreed facts, Réjean Hébert noticed his vehicle was damaged the day before his death. His son had borrowed it to go to Moncton and had been in an accident. 

The father confronted his son, resulting in an argument in the victim's bedroom.

Philippe Hébert took a knife from a bedside table and stabbed his father three times in the chest, which killed him. The son carried the body behind the home's garage and set it on fire. 

Philippe Hébert left the home, texting his mother that his father was yelling at him. He called 911 at 2:48 a.m. on Dec. 29 to say his father was unwell and suicidal.

Police arrived at the home and found burned remains.

When Philippe Hébert returned to the home at 6:31 a.m., police placed him under arrest, but he fled and eventually stopped in Janeville, east of Bathurst.