Youngest of 6 sentenced in 2022 Saint John homicide will be out in 3 weeks

Another of the six people charged in the 2022 stabbing death of Justin Breau has been sentenced in Saint John.

Dustin Trey Walker-Hammond, 25, was sentenced to two years less a day for manslaughter for his role in Breau's death, although a publication ban protects exactly what that role was.

Walker-Hammond was originally charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty in January to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Since his arrest, Walker-Hammond has been in jail 472 days. According to the usual sentencing protocol, he was given credit for time-and-a-half while on remand, meaning he's been given credit for 708 days.

So in the end, he was sentenced to serve an additional 21 days.

Outside the courtroom after the sentencing, Breau's mother Susanne said she was satisfied with the sentence.

Justice Kathryn Gregory said there were a number of factors working in Walker-Hammond's favour, including his youth and his "prospects for rehabilitation."

Gregory said Walker-Hammond managed to get his high school equivalency and was enrolled in a cooking course at the community college before he was arrested.

She said if he were to "reapply himself to his studies" he could become a "productive member of society."

After his release from jail, Walker-Hammond will be on probation for two years and has been ordered to have no contact with the victim's family.

The judge also made education a condition. Walker-Hammond was ordered to continue his studies in order to reintegrate into society.

3 more awaiting 1st-degree murder trial

That brings to three the number of people sentenced in the Aug. 17, 2022, death of Breau, 39.

Two others were dealt with last month.

Travis Earl Boudreau, 34, and Sarah Jean Belzil, 37, were originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of Breau, 39, but pleaded guilty last month to being accessories.

Boudreau, who was given credit for 22 months served on remand, was given a conditional sentence of one year to be served in the community. The first six months will be served under house arrest and the final six months on a curfew of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Sarah Jean Belzil, 37, who spent 7½ months in jail on remand before being released on house arrest, was given a one-year conditional sentence to be served in the community. She was also given a curfew of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Sarah Jean Belzil, 37, and Travis Earl Boudreau, 34, were sentenced last month for their role in the 2022 death of Justin Breau. (Saint John Police Force and Travis Boudreau/Facebook)

Because three other men are awaiting a jury trial later this year on first-degree murder, there is a publication ban in effect until all other bans in the case are lifted. The ban prevents much of what has been heard in court over the last few months from being published, but at the time of his death, police said Breau died after being stabbed in his Charles Street apartment after three masked men broke in.

Between January and March 2023, six people were arrested by Saint John police and eventually charged with first-degree murder.

Still awaiting trial are Charles William Shatford, 48, Donald Robert Walker, 51, and Evan Louis Tobias, 29.

Charles Shatford has a well-known connection with Breau, who was found not guilty in December 2020 of murdering Shatford's brother, Mark.

Several weeks have been set aside for the trial, beginning in September.