A man from Nova Scotia, initially facing manslaughter charges in connection with a fatal assault in Fredericton last year, has now admitted to summary assault. Tyler Totten from Truro was among four individuals implicated in the death of André Bourgeois, aged 41, from Grand-Digue. The incident occurred in the downtown bar area, leading to Bourgeois’s passing on September 27, 2024.
At the time of the assault, Totten was 18 years old and the sole adult charged in connection with Bourgeois’s demise. The other three individuals involved are facing separate trials under the Youth Criminal Justice Act with their identities protected.
During a recent court appearance, Crown prosecutor Patrick Wilbur announced a new charge of summary assault against Totten, which carries a maximum penalty of less than two years in jail compared to the potential life imprisonment for manslaughter. Totten, represented by defense attorney Brian Munro, opted for a trial in provincial court and pleaded guilty to the reduced charge.
As a result, the previous manslaughter charge was dropped by the Crown. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, where details of the case will be presented, and a joint recommendation from the defense and Crown will be issued.
The other three individuals involved in Bourgeois’s death, two of whom were 17 years old and one who was 16 at the time, have elected for a judge and jury trial and are currently not in custody. Their trial is set to commence on September 28, 2026, with twenty days allocated for proceedings.
Initially, the Crown had sought adult sentences for the youths if convicted; however, this application has since been retracted.