Pair occupied apartment, changed lock, bought groceries, court hears

Moncton residents facing murder charge in Nova Scotia pleaded guilty to Moncton charges

Article content Two New Brunswick residents facing a murder charge in Nova Scotia were in Moncton court on Thursday to be sentenced for offences in this province. Shawn Eugene Patriquin, 56, and Natasha Deborah Austin, 42, both of Moncton, were in provincial court, Austin in person in the prisoner’s dock and Patriquin by videoconference from Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth, where both accused are being held in remand on a murder charge. Both pleaded guilty in May to a charge of mischief for interfering with the lawful use or operation of a property on March 12, 2024.

The Crown withdrew a charge of breaking into an apartment building in Moncton on that same date. Austin also pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen Chevrolet Express van on March 29, 2024, and missing court on Jan. 7, 2025. Thursday was the sentencing for the pair.

Prosecutor Zoe LeBlanc told the court the RCMP were called on March 12, 2024, by the owner of an apartment building on High Street. He had been told by tenants that people were coming and going from a vacant apartment in the building and when he tried to unlock the apartment door, none of his keys worked. LeBlanc said police attended the scene, the door was forced open and Patriquin and Austin were found inside and arrested.

Patriquin claimed on Thursday that the situation was a bit of a misunderstanding. “I was somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be,” he said. “Someone asked me and Natasha to look after her house for her and we changed the lock and bought groceries.

The next morning the cops kicked the door in. “I apologize to the owner, I’m sorry it happened the way it did.” Patriquin was sentenced to three months in jail, which won’t really affect him because the time will be served while he’s already remanded for the Nova Scotia charge.

“Mr. Patriquin, do you remember the Sears catalogue?” asked Judge Brigitte Volpé, as she looked at his 20-page criminal record in front of her. “Because your prior convictions are starting to look like the Sears catalogue, which does not work in your favour.” “It sure does,” Patriquin admitted.

Austin was in the prisoner’s dock for sentencing for the mischief at the apartment, missing court and possession of a stolen van, which involved her fingerprint being found inside a van that had been reported stolen and later recovered. The Crown and defence asked for 30 days jail for Austin but the judge wouldn’t go for it, saying she has too many convictions on her record since 2020 to justify such a short jail term. “Since 2020 it’s been a continuous crime wave,” said Volpé. Defence lawyer Kyle Cullen said Austin has been troubled by addiction, which contributed to her record.

“She has persistent substance abuse issues,” he said. The judge adjourned Austin’s sentencing to Aug. 13 so the parties can attempt to justify the 30-day sentence being recommended. The pair were arrested by Codiac RCMP on April 16 and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Christopher Leggett, 41, of Amherst, on April 13.

Amherst Police said the victim was involved in a dispute with some people at the corner of Church and Prince Arthur streets in the town’s downtown and was shot shortly after. A third person, Michael James Ryan, 34, of Springhill, was wanted on a warrant and arrested April 23 by Codiac RCMP in Moncton. He faces the same charge.

The three accused in the murder case face a preliminary inquiry from April 20-22 in Amherst, for a judge to determine if there’s enough evidence to order them to be tried by judge and jury.