‘It’s not blood’: Cross-examination of accused in Moncton double-murder trial continues

Janson Baker testified again at a double-murder trial in Moncton.

The cross-examination of Janson Baker continued Thursday morning in a Moncton courtroom at his double-murder trial.

Baker has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Bernard and Rose-Marie Saulnier.

The Saulniers were shot and killed in their Dieppe, N.B., home on Sept. 7, 2019.

Once again, Baker denied he had anything to do with their deaths.

“I know that I did not commit this crime,” said Baker.

Court was shown a photo that Baker posted on Facebook of him wearing a chain.

Baker said he was a lover of jewelry and was constantly buying, selling and trading chains and other items.

“It was completely normal for me to have chains,” said Baker.

Crown prosecutor James McConnell asked him how he got the chain and Baker appeared to get frustrated.

“I’m not trying to be argumentative. I did not kill Rose-Marie. I did not kill Bernard Saulnier,” said Baker, repeating exactly what he had said the day before.

Court previously heard testimony that a man named Nick Bain allegedly gave Baker a chain as part of a payment for killing the Saulniers.

“You earned that chain, didn’t you?” asked McConnell.

“I didn’t earn it by killing anybody, that’s for sure,” said Baker.

Again, Baker appeared frustrated with McConnell’s line of questioning, talking after answering questions.

Chief Justice James Gunn warned Baker to just answer McConnell’s questions and not go on a tangent.

“I’ve told you before, respond to questions,” said Gunn.

Throughout the trial, court had heard a chain was taken from Bernard Saulnier’s body. Baker said the chain he was wearing in the Facebook picture was a different one.

“That is clearly not the same chain,” said Baker, who was becoming more and more agitated with McConnell’s questions.

“I’m going to warn you one last time. Answer questions,” said Gunn.

Baker apologized saying he was frustrated.

McConnell then showed the courtroom a photo of Baker taken around 4 a.m. the same morning the Saulniers were killed.

That picture was earlier presented as evidence.

In the photo, Baker is wearing two gold chains.

McConnell then asked Baker about reddish stains on his shirt in the photo.

“I’m going to put it to you that those are blood stains,” he said.

Baker said it was an old stain and could have been anything, possibly juice or ketchup.

“It’s not blood,” said Baker.

Baker was not re-examined by defence attorney Brian Munro, who then called Nathan Wojcicki to the stand, A childhood friend Baker stayed with during the summer of 2019.

“Janson stayed on my couch for most of the summer,” said Wojcicki. “He never really asked for too much.”

Court previously heard testimony from Zach Trevors who testified as a key crown witness in late January. He said Baker drove him to the Saulnier’s home in a silver Hyundai Sonata the morning of the murders. He said he say Baker inside the Saulnier’s home shouting and then heard a scream followed by two gunshots.

Wojcicki said he and Trevors were once friends too, but not anymore. Wojcicki testified briefly before the lunch break.

The jury did not sit in the afternoon.

“A legal issue has arisen, and it’s taken a little more time than expected,” said Gunn.

The trial, now in its seventh week, is scheduled to resume on Monday.

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