Murder trial begins for man accused of killing two boys in Saint John, N.B., in 2025

A 14-member jury will decide if a man is guilty of two first-degree murder charges.

The jury has been selected for the trial of a man charged with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly killing two boys in the north end of Saint John, N.B., in January 2025.

Justice Darrell Stephenson of the Court of King’s Bench is presiding over the jury trial of 46-year-old Roman Kamyshnyy.

The identities of the victims are protected under a publication ban; they are being referred to as victim A.B. and victim C.D.

The publication ban also prevents sharing the relationship between the victims and the accused. Previous court rulings have allowed the media to describe the alleged incident as one that involves domestic violence.

Members of the Saint John Police Force responded to an apartment around 7 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2025. Police immediately forced their way into the home, where they found the bodies of a 17-year-old boy and a 10-year-old boy.

They also found Kamyshnyy, who was taken to the Saint John Regional Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Elaina Campbell, Chris Ryan, and Orlando Lineros are the Crown prosecutors in the trial. Shanna Wicks is representing Kamyshnyy through legal aid.

Kamyshnyy was physically present in the courtroom Monday for the jury selection process.

Fourteen jurors were selected for the expected three-week trial, with two alternate jurors also named and dismissed before the trial began. More than 100 potential jurors were at the courthouse Monday for the selection process.

Ahead of the jury selection, Stephenson told the potential jurors to approach the case with an open mind and only make decisions based on the evidence presented in the courtroom.

Crown opening argument

After a brief recess for lunch, the jurors returned to the courtroom around 2:30 p.m. to hear opening arguments from Crown prosecutors.

Chris Ryan led the opening statement on behalf of the Crown, where he gave the jury background on A.B. and C.D., as well as the relationship they shared with the accused. He also detailed events that led to the alleged murders.

None of those details can be shared outside of the courtroom due to the publication ban.

Ryan told the jury Kamyshnny stabbed A.B. and C.D. to death and then tried to take his own life with a nail gun. None of the allegations have been tested in court.

The trial will continue into Tuesday and is expected to last three weeks. Proceedings are expected to be completed by June 26.

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