RCMP investigator tells Moncton manslaughter trial of assault captured on video

Katelin Belliveau · CBC News

· Posted: May 14, 2025 5:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

An RCMP serviceman and erstwhile pb researcher with the large crimes portion successful Moncton testified Wednesday that helium saw surveillance footage of Michael Glaspy assaulting Rodney Frenette and past being escorted retired of Casino New Brunswick 2 years ago.

The 53-year-old Glaspy, of Riverview, is connected proceedings for manslaughter in transportation with Frenette's death.

Frenette, 56, was moving arsenic nutrient and beverage manager astatine the casino erstwhile Glaspy allegedly assaulted him March 4, 2023. Frenette died successful infirmary 24 days later.

RCMP Cpl. Andrew Paynter was the archetypal to attest successful the trial, which is expected to past 4 weeks.

He outlined what helium saw connected video surveillance of an altercation betwixt Glaspy and Frenette astatine the casino's Hub City Pub connected March 4.  

Paynter said helium saw Frenette autumn to the level aft the incidental and enactment down. He said the altercation seemed to past astir 30 seconds, and Glaspy was extracurricular the building within 15 minutes.

• Riverview antheral charged with manslaughter successful decease of casino manager

Paynter said the Codiac RCMP handed the record implicit to the large crimes portion successful aboriginal March, and helium began his ain probe by reviewing footage helium obtained from the casino and interviewing witnesses.

The large crimes portion handles superior cases such arsenic homicide and different high-profile crimes.

Paynter described reviewing astir 46 camera angles, and focusing connected 9 that travel Glaspy's movements from the clip of the altercation with Frenette successful the aboriginal hours of March 4.

Although the videos successful question were not shown during his testimony, Paynter said the footage shows Glaspy assaulting Frenette successful the pub and being escorted retired of the gathering by security. He said much footage depicts constabulary officers arriving connected country and detaining Glaspy shortly after.

During his investigation, Paynter said, it became wide to him that Frenette had been admitted to the infirmary due to the fact that of  Glaspy's alleged assault. 

Paynter said helium aboriginal charged Glaspy with manslaughter due to the fact that his probe led him to judge that Frenette "had succumbed to those injuries."

During cross-examination, defence lawyer Gilles Lemieux asked Paynter to describe Glaspy's demeanour earlier the altercation March 4.

He said that Glaspy seemed happy, that helium was bumping into radical portion dancing, and that astatine 1 constituent helium leaned intimately into the set that was playing.

When asked whether helium seemed intoxicated, Paynter said helium couldn't archer from the footage.

Lemieux then asked Paynter whether immoderate information unit had intervened successful immoderate of Glaspy's actions anterior to the altercation. Paynter said helium didn't spot information officers successful the pub astatine the time.

Crown authoritative Patrick Wilbur also called Craig Davidson arsenic a witness.

Davidson said helium was moving the overnight displacement arsenic a supervisor successful the camera-monitoring room when the altercation took place.

During his testimony, the Crown showed a inactive framework of information footage connected ample screens successful court, showing portion of the casino floor.

In his cross-examination, Lemieux asked Davidson what helium remembers seeing on the video surveillance erstwhile information alerted him to the incident going connected successful the pub that night.

"I saw a radical of radical connected the ground, I believe."

Lemieux asked him who helium could place successful the video.

"I was beauteous definite that it was Rodney who was connected the ground," Davidson said, referring to Frenette.

Lemieux past asked him if helium could spot Glaspy successful the frame.

"I don't recall," helium replied.

Another Crown witness, Melissa Fitzsimmons, was moving successful the disclosure portion of the Codiac RCMP astatine the clip of the investigation.

Fitzsimmons, who testified virtually from Alberta, said she was asked by Paynter to heighten the casino surveillance video by lightening it to amended its contrast. She said she did so.

Crown outlines what assemblage should expect

Before Paynter's grounds connected Wednesday, Wilbur laid retired the Crown's roadmap for the trial, telling jurors they volition spot the surveillance footage of the altercation betwixt Glaspy and Frenette.

"You'll beryllium capable to ticker it for yourselves … to find what really occurred connected the level of the Hub City Pub," Wilbur said. 

• Jury selected astatine proceedings of antheral accused successful Moncton casino manager's death

He besides said the Crown intends to participate into grounds a connection Frenette gave to RCMP portion successful hospital, and different that Glaspy gave to RCMP shortly aft his arrest. 

In total, the Crown expects to telephone 17 witnesses.

After Paynter's testimony, Justice Christa Bourque discharged a juror, but the crushed isn't reportable.The juror volition not beryllium replaced due to the fact that determination are inactive 13 — one much than is needed to deliberate astatine the extremity of the trial.

The proceedings is acceptable to proceed connected Thursday.