Fredericton Police vow to change handling of major crimes after review into botched homicide cases

The Fredericton Police Force is vowing to correct how they investigate major crimes after an independent review recommended broad changes in response to a police evidentiary mistake that derailed prosecutions into two killings in the New Brunswick capital last spring.

Fredericton Police Chief Gary Forward apologized Friday for the police error that halted the criminal cases against five people accused in the deaths of Corey Markey and Brandon Donelan in 2021 and 2022.

“I accept full responsibility for the error that led to the stays of proceedings, and I recognize the profound impact this has had, not only on the families, but on the public confidence in our police force and the justice system,” Chief Forward told reporters at a press conference.