Murder, Manslaughter, Accidental Death = Dope + Booze = Shrug

The death of an Oromocto man gets interesting by the day. OK, not really interesting, just disturbing. Once upon a time a 'murder' would have made front page news hours after the fact, but not these days. If a murder involves drunken and doped up teenagers and a few adults then things get dicey. First, the murder/death/manslaughter wasn't revealed to the general public because there were many (8 or more) 'needing protection' teenagers involved. God forbid if their names were revealed, the parents might be mighty embarrassed to admit publicly what their kids do on an average Saturday night. Worse than that, the general public might become aware that a nondescript apartment building was also a drug den where underage drinking, dope smoking and other unmentionables were happening on a regular basis.

From the Fredericton Daily Gleaner:

A 16-year-old Geary boy charged with manslaughter in the stabbing death of a Sheffield man was released from custody following a bail hearing Tuesday, but a friend accused of being an accessory after the fact wasn't so fortunate.

Judge Andrew LeMesurier released the teen following a bail hearing in youth court in Burton.

The teen - who faces a charge of manslaughter stemming from the April 5 death of Michael Thurber, 43, - was released on a number of conditions, including to reside at his step-grandparents' home in Geary under house arrest. He can only leave the home for school, work, legal appointments, court dates and medical emergencies.

The teen can't be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Evidence presented at his bail hearing is subject to a ban on publication as well.

The boy is also to report in person to the RCMP detachment in Oromocto every Thursday, allow warrantless searches of his residence to ensure he's complying with conditions, possess no weapons, abstain from alcohol and drugs and to have no contact with Thurber's family members, numerous witnesses in the case and Brian Robert Dobson.

Dobson, 19, of 40 Intervale Rd. in Geary also appeared in court for a bail hearing Tuesday.

He faces April 5 charges of assisting the suspect escape conviction from prosecution by disposing of evidence and breaching a judge's undertaking to have no contact with the teen, to abstain from alcohol and drugs and to follow a nightly curfew.

Dobson also faces April 6 charges of intimidating a witness in the case, Christopher Croteau, AKA Christopher Gosman; counselling Croteau to commit public mischief by misleading RCMP investigators; attempting to obstruct justice by requesting that Croteau provide police with a false statement; and breaching a probation order. [Ed: AKA - good golly - are there any normal family situations any more?]

Following Dobson's bail hearing, LeMesurier ordered that he's to be held in custody pending the outcome of the case against him.

Evidence presented at the second bail hearing Tuesday is also subject to a ban on publication. [ Ed: does this include Facebook?]

What fine young men and nameless young women. *sarc*

I expect far more disturbing evidence (if people get disturbed by such things any more) and others being charged with 'other' issues.

What a mess.