Case continued for man charged in nurse’s death

EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – The case against a Saint John man charged in the death of a Portland, Maine, pediatric nurse was continued Wednesday in Edmundston Provincial Court until Aug. 20

The bail and bail conditions for Adam Fraser, 28, were continued until the August plea hearing. Fraser faces a maximum of life in prison for the August 2002 hit-and-run death of Connie Bellefleur, 21, a Madawaska native.

The continuance was granted by Provincial Court Judge Camille Dumas. The August hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m., Atlantic time, in Edmundston Provincial Court.

Fraser, who appeared in court and was represented by Saint John attorney David Lutz, requested the continuance at what was supposed to have been a plea hearing. Fraser was charged on July 3, a time span of 11 months to the day after the incident. He was arrested by Edmundston police on July 2 at his home in Saint John.

Charges against a second individual, Fraser’s wife, who police would not identify, may be pending. No charges had been made by Wednesday, according to Detective Sgt. Percy Picard of the Edmundston City Police Department.

Connie Bellefleur was struck and killed at about 2 a.m. Aug. 3, 2002, as she crossed St. Francis Street, near the intersection of Hill Street in Edmundston. Accompanied by her sister and friends, she was walking back to Madawaska, located across the St. John River, after spending an evening at Edmundston’s annual Foire Brayonne Festival.

Acting on evidence found at the scene of the accident and information from witnesses, police identified the car involved in the accident within 18 hours of the incident. When police arrived at the Saint John residence to talk with owners of the vehicle on Aug. 4, 2002, the couple had contacted a lawyer and refused to talk about the incident.

Fraser is the owner of a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire, which police seized after the Aug. 3 incident. He and his wife have been suspects in the case ever since.

Ten days ago before Fraser was charged, Edmundston City Police had announced the funding of a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in Connie Bellefleur’s death.

The police had instituted a telephone hot line to receive information and had placed posters about the incident at Madawaska, Edmundston, Saint John and in neighboring areas.

Fraser’s wife, who was his girlfriend at the time of the accident, is a native of Edmundston. Both were living in Saint John, but had been in Edmundston for the annual festival last year.The Frasers were married three days after the hit-and-run incident. Under Canadian law, even though they were married after the incident, they cannot be forced to testify against each other.

At his initial court appearance on July 3, Fraser was released on $3,000 cash bail, with conditions. The conditions are that he remain on good behavior, stay within the boundaries of New Brunswick, and doesn’t use alcohol or drugs. He must report to Saint John police once a week and can’t drive a motorized vehicle.

The official charge against Fraser is long and complicated, but essentially, he is charged with being in control of a vehicle involved in an accident that caused harm and death to Bellefleur.

He also is charged with leaving the scene without giving his name and address, and without offering assistance.