{
  "id": 11513353,
  "title": "Fredericton chief says police are making progress since collapse of two murder trials",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/fredericton-chief-says-police-are-making-progress-since-collapse-of-11513353",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T19:38:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/uncategorized/2026/10/02/fredericton-chief-says-police-are-making-progress-since-collapse-of-two-murder-trials"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fredericton police chief Gary Forward announced significant changes within the force following the collapse of two murder trials last year. The chief revealed that the force had hired new staff, introduced training programs, and put in place better oversight measures following an investigation into an error that led to the abandonment of the trials. These steps were in response to 19 recommendations from Ontario lawyer Ian D. Scott, who conducted a review of the cases.\n\nScott's report highlighted an \"insurmountable evidentiary issue\" as the reason for the abandonment of both cases, though he did not provide many details due to the Canada Evidence Act. As of June next year, Forward said the police force plans to complete all 19 recommendations made by Scott. The collapse of the trials before they began meant no one was convicted for the murders of Corey Christopher Markey and Brandon Patrick Donelan.\n\nMarkey, 41, was shot on Paul Street in Sitansisk First Nation on December 21, 2021, and died in the hospital eight days later. Donelan, 27, was reported missing in January 2022, and his body was found in a wooded area on March 31, 2022. The Fredericton Police Force led the investigation into Markey’s death, while the RCMP investigated Donelan’s killing. Forward mentioned that the municipal police force is discussing with other New Brunswick police forces about establishing a provincial investigative unit for homicides, as recommended by Scott.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Fredericton police chief Gary Forward announces force changes post-trial collapse.",
    "19 recommendations from Ian D. Scott report to be completed by June 2024.",
    "Corey Markey and Brandon Donelan murders remain unsolved."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/11513353.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Fredericton chief says police are making progress since collapse of two murder trials",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/fredericton-chief-says-police-are-making-progress-since-collapse-of",
        "published": "2026-10-02T19:44:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}