New Brunswick·UpdatedA 48-year-old man charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 58-year-old man in Edmundston early Tuesday morning has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment.Jean-Martin Couture is accused in death of Jacques Lévesque, 58, whose body was found in an apartment TuesdayPolice found a 58-year-old man dead on the floor of an apartment in this building, at the corner of Rosario and Véniot streets in Edmundston, early Tuesday morning. (Allyson Dubé/Radio-Canada)A 48-year-old man charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a 58-year-old man in Edmundston early Tuesday morning has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment.Jean-Martin Couture, of no fixed address in Edmundston, made a brief appearance in provincial court via videoconference Wednesday afternoon. The judge ordered the assessment to determine if he’s fit to stand trial.Couture was charged with second-degree murder Tuesday, just hours after police officers discovered the body of Jacques Lévesque, 58, in an apartment on Rosario Street.Members of the Edmundston Police Force responded to a call about “an incident” in the apartment shortly after midnight Monday, according to a news release.The officers found a “seriously injured and unconscious person lying on the floor,” the release said.”It was quickly determined that the victim was deceased, and that the cause of death appeared to be a homicide.”Neighbour heard yellingNeighbour Rolly Medina said he was home at the time.”I was watching TV at 11 o’clock. I heard yelling, but they used to yell here, so I don’t mind, you know?”So I continue watching … and then around quarter to 12, or something like that, the police arrived. And that’s all I know,” he said in an interview Wednesday.The police investigation continues. (Allyson Dubé/Radio-Canada)Investigators were called to the scene, along with a member of the forensic identification section and New Brunswick RCMP’S police dog services.Within a few hours, a 48-year-old man from the Edmundston area, who is “known to the authorities for his previous convictions,” was arrested and questioned, according to the news release.The man appeared before a provincial court judge by teleconference Tuesday, when he was formally charged with second-degree murder and scheduled to return to court on Wednesday.Couture, who remains in custody, is scheduled to return to court on July 18 at 9:30 a.m. ‘He doesn’t bother me’Medina, who was awake until 4 a.m. Tuesday, says police remained at the scene until around noon, when they removed the victim’s body.He knew the victim, he said, but not by name. The man used to help him carry heavy items and borrowed money from him before, he said.”He doesn’t bother me. I don’t know if he makes problem. I don’t know. He doesn’t bother me.”Although Medina says he had seen the accused before, he doesn’t know him, he said.With files from Radio-Canada
Man charged with Edmundston murder ordered to undergo psychiatric assessment
