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A man charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of two boys in Saint John, N.B., last year has been found guilty on both counts.
The guilty verdicts were delivered shortly after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the jury started deliberations.
The jury found that Roman Kamyshnyy, 46, stabbed the 10-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy to death the morning of Jan. 29, 2025, before he tried to kill himself with a nail gun to his head.
As the verdict was read, Kamyshnyy stood in the accused box with his eyes closed, bowing his head at times as his defence lawyer, Shanna Wicks, stood by his side.
Some jury members were emotional as the guilty verdicts were read in court. At least one juror was seen wiping away tears following the reading.
“Thank you, you have now completed your jury service,” Justice Darrell Stephenson told the jury before discharging them from their duties.
“You have made a significant contribution to the administration of justice by performing your duties with such diligence, care, and attention.”
Kamyshnyy will be sentenced on Aug. 13, when victim impact statements are expected to be read in court. He will remain in custody until then.
In Canada, a first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
‘Deeply distressing and tragic case’
During a news conference following the verdicts, the Saint John Police Force said it marked “a significant moment in a deeply distressing and tragic case.”
“This outcome reflects the strength of the evidence presented and the diligence of all those who worked tirelessly to ensure that justice was pursued with integrity and professionalism,” said Staff Sgt. Shawna Fowler.
“The Saint John Police extends our sincere gratitude to everyone who’s been involved in this difficult process.”
Fowler noted the case has had “a profound impact” on the community and offered condolences to the family and friends of the victims.
“While no verdict can undo the harm that has been done, accountability is an important step in recognizing that harm and supporting the path toward healing,” she added.
‘Driven by vengeance’: What the court heard
The Crown told the trial, which started on June 8, that Kamyshnyy “was driven by vengeance” and he killed the boys to “punish” the trial’s key witness, identified only as Witness A to protect their identity.
The court was shown a message from Kamyshnyy to Witness A that said, “I killed them all” before he allegedly shared his intentions to take his own life.
A message shortly after read: “Call for us the police and ambulance.”
The jury also saw various letters, documents and videos the Crown said were created by Kamyshnyy in the days before the murders.
“To Canadian officials, my name is Roman Kamyshnyy and I’m fully responsible for this situation,” Crown attorney Elaina Campbell read to the courtroom from Kamyshnyy’s letter during closing arguments Tuesday.
The identities of the boys, known only as A.B. and C.D. during the trial, are also protected under a publication ban.
911 call from C.D.
A 911 call from the 17-year-old boy, identified as C.D., was played for the jury during the trial.
“Please, please, please help,” the 17-year-old pleaded with the 911 operator during the call, which was made around 7 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2025.
“Please, please, he got a knife.”
‘He just said he killed them’
Witnesses who lived in the apartment building at the time of the murders testified they heard a commotion around 7 a.m. and one said they saw a puddle of blood in the hall.
A close friend of Witness A testified that he received a call from the witness the morning of the murders.
“He did it … he just said he killed them and he’s going to try to kill himself,” Corey Dugas told the court Witness A said to him over the phone.
Kamyshnyy found covered in blood
The police officers who responded to the crime scene also testified at the trial and the court was shown their bodycam footage. They told the court they found C.D. lying in the hallway of the apartment and the younger boy, A.B., lying in a bed.
The officers also testified that they found Kamyshnyy sitting on the toilet, covered in blood.
The court heard that Kamyshnyy was first taken to the police detention centre and then to the hospital, where it was determined the wounds in his head were from two nail guns. He underwent emergency surgery to have them removed.
Boys died from multiple stab wounds
A forensic identification officer testified that he counted 16 different cut marks in the T-shirt worn by the 10-year-old victim and 11 in the shirt worn by the 17-year-old victim.
The man who performed the autopsies on the two boys testified that they both died from multiple stab wounds.
Kamyshnyy said he didn’t remember murders
Kamyshnyy was the sole witness called to the stand by the defence during the trial. He testified that he doesn’t remember the morning the two boys were killed.
Kamyshnyy did not recall the knives that appeared to have blood on them, pictures of which were shown in court. Nor did he remember the noises neighbours in the apartment building testified about hearing that morning.
“The explanation is pretty simple,” he told the court while on the stand.
“I was living normal life ... then I close my eyes, open, and I’m at the hospital,” Kamyshnyy testified, adding he has no memories of police arriving that morning, or his trip to the Saint John Regional Hospital to have a pair of nails removed from his head.
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