Court Second accused will remain in jail after waiving his right to a bail hearing

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JEFF DUCHARME
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

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ST. STEPHENS - One man charged in the savage beating and robbery of an elderly L'Etete man that occurred on Aug. 24 will remain behind bars and another was released on bail after appearing in provincial court Friday.

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Christopher Charles True

Christopher Charles True, 21, of St. Stephen waived his right to a bail hearing and Joshua Anthony Fraser, 18, of St. Stephen was released on bail.

Crown prosecutor Randy DiPaolo said outside court that Fraser was released on bail because witness accounts of the beating show that he apparently had no part in the assault.

The charges, however, haven't been dropped against Fraser.

"The evidence is very strongly in favour that he did not hurt this old man," DiPaolo said about Fraser's release on bail.

On Aug. 24 at 10 p.m., two men approached Herbert Matthews of L'Etete as he sat in his truck at the ferry landing. One man beat Matthews and another bystander who rushed to help.

The two who approached Matthews had just crossed on the Deer Island ferry. They then jumped into Matthews' truck and sped off.

Matthews was beaten about the face, leaving one side of his face with deep purple bruising and dark purple circles under his eye. He was taken to the Saint John Regional Hospital and is now at home recovering from the bruises, cuts and fractures left in the wake of the attack.

True is charged with robbery using violence, assault, assault causing bodily harm, and drinking and driving.

Fraser was charged with robbery using violence and assault causing bodily harm. An additional charge was laid against him Friday, of being the occupant of a motor vehicle knowing that it was taken without the permission of the owner.

DiPaolo said after the RCMP questioned witnesses a second time, it became obvious that Fraser wasn't involved in the assault.

"He still remains charged (in the assault and robbery) just in the event that some further evidence develops in the next couple of weeks," said DiPaolo.

The pair will be back in St. Stephen court on Sept. 25.

DiPaolo said Friday's developments in the case proved an important lesson.

"Don't jump to conclusions when people are charged with offences. That's all it means is that they're charged," he said. "It does not mean they're guilty."