New Brunswick·NewPhilippe LeBlanc recently underwent a 30-day psychiatric evaluation at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton. Though results were not disclosed in court Thursday, his lawyer requested the trial move ahead to a preliminary inquiry.Philippe LeBlanc, who is accused of killing Bless LeBlanc, is also facing indignity to a dead bodyKatelin Belliveau · CBC News · Posted: Sep 04, 2025 12:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoA case heard Thursday in Moncton provincial court will proceed to a preliminary inquiry for a man accused of murder and dismemberment. (Katelin Belliveau/CBC News)A Beaubassin East man accused of killing another man from that region has completed a psychiatric evaluation, and his case will move forward with a new charge of indignity to a dead body laid against him.Defense lawyers representing Philippe Leblanc, 29, requested that he undergo a 30-day evaluation at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton to determine if he could be deemed not criminally responsible for allegedly killing Bless LeBlanc.The results of that evaluation were not disclosed during a hearing in Moncton provincial court Thursday.Defense lawyer Vincent Dubuc did, however, request that the case move forward to a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the Crown has enough evidence in the case to proceed to trial.LeBlanc, who appeared in court by video on Thursday, was charged on June 23 after police found the body of 67-year-old Bless LeBlanc in a wooded area near Cap-Pele.According to RCMP, LeBlanc’s body was found on Collins Lake Road shortly after he’d been reported missing.Bless LeBlanc, 67, was found in a wooded area near his property in Beaubassin East on June 22, according to the RCMP. (Frenette Funeral Home)A person cannot be held criminally responsible for a crime if a mental disorder rendered that person incapable of understanding the nature or quality of what they were doing as they were committing the crime, or of knowing that it was wrong.Had LeBlanc been found not criminally responsible for the alleged crime, his trial would have effectively come to an end.LeBlanc charged with indignity to a dead body by dismembermentCrown lawyer Eric Lalonde told Judge Pierre Arsenault Thursday that a new charge was laid against LeBlanc.He’s now facing one count of indignity to a dead human body for allegedly dismembering the remains of Bless LeBlanc, in addition to one count of first-degree murder.WATCH | Beaubassin East murder case will proceed to preliminary inquiry:Murder case to move forward after accused completes psychiatric evaluationPhilippe LeBlanc is accused of killing and dismembering the body of 67-year-old Bless LeBlanc, who was found in Beaubassin East in June. Arsenault said LeBlanc will be transported from Campbellton to the Southeast Regional Correctional Centre in Shediac, where he will be held in custody.His next court appearance is set for Sept. 25.ABOUT THE AUTHORKatelin Belliveau is a CBC reporter based in Moncton.
Beaubassin East murder case moves forward after accused completes psych evaluation
