Cold North

07/22/2026

'Driven by Vengeance': How a Father's Violent Retaliation Shattered a Ukrainian Family seeking Refuge in Canada

When a Ukrainian family relocated to Saint John, New Brunswick, in 2023, their goal was survival - protecting their two young sons from the dangers of war and mandatory military service back home [1].

Instead, two years later, that haven turned into the scene of an unspeakable tragedy. On January 29, 2025, 46-year-old Roman Kamyshnyy brutally murdered his own sons - aged 10 and 17 - in their Millidgeville apartment in an act prosecutors described as calculated, cold-blooded revenge against his ex-wife [1].

Following a harrowing trial in the Court of King's Bench, a jury found Kamyshnyy guilty of two counts of first-degree murder [1]. Though publication bans protect the identity of the two young boys and their mother (referred to in court as Witness A), recently altered reporting restrictions have allowed the CBC to shed light on the full scope of domestic abuse, coercive control, and obsessive tracking that culminated in the killings [1].

Testifying from behind a screen to avoid eye contact with Kamyshnyy, the mother described her 20-year marriage as a "prison" [1]. While the family appeared happy on the surface, behind closed doors she lives in constant anxiety, enduring relentless emotional manipulation [1].

Hoping a fresh start in Canada would ease the strain, she agreed to the move [1]. However, proximity only heightened the tension. When she repeatedly asked for a divorce, Kamyshnyy dismissed her feelings, telling her she had a "hormone problem," was depressed, and would "never survive" without him [1].

After she legally filed for divorce remotely in Ukraine in late 2024, Kamyshnyy's behaviour escalated into systemic surveillance [1].

He secretly installed a GPS tracking device on the family vehicle to monitor her location while he worked long hours as a long-haul truck driver [1].

He hacked into her social media accounts, reading her private messages for months leading up to the murders [1].

Despite being legally divorced, financial pressures - including a $15,000 tax debt Kamyshnyy owed to the Canadian Revenue Agency - forced them to continue sharing the same apartment [1].

When she eventually decided to move on and went on a European vacation with a new partner, Kamyshnyy agreed to stay behind with the boys [1]. Court records reveal it was during this period that he began planning their deaths [1].

According to evidence presented during the trial, Kamyshnyy purchased a nail gun four days before the attacks and drafted a letter dated January 27 taking responsibility for his plan, explicitly blaming his ex-wife's alleged infidelity for his actions [1].

On the morning of January 29, 2025, while the 10-year-old was sleeping in bed, Kamyshnyy stabbed him multiple times with a kitchen knife [1]. The 17-year-old brother attempted to intervene and fled, managed to call 911, and hid in a closet, but Kamyshnyy broke the knife, grabbed a larger one, dragged his teenage son into the kitchen, and killed him [1].

At 7:08 a.m., immediately following the attack, Kamyshnyy sent a picture of his eldest son's body to his ex-wife with the message: "Go home. I killed everyone." [1] He then turned a nail gun on himself, shooting himself twice in the head in an attempted su***de [1].

In closing arguments, Crown prosecutor Elaina Campbell highlighted the motive behind the the tragedy [1]:

"Because for [her], what could be worse? A mother whose children are gone forever." [1]

Throughout the trial, Kamyshnyy claimed he had no memory of the killings, attributing his actions to alcohol consumption following the divorce [1]. However, digital evidence - including scheduled emails sent to the boys' mother calling her derogatory names, handwritten notes, and recorded police interviews - showed a deliberate plan to punish her for leaving the relationship [1].

Kamyshnyy faces an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years [1]. His formal sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2026, where victim impact statements from family members and first responders will be presented with[1].

References:
[1] MacKinnon, Bobbi-Jean. "Saint John man stabbed his own sons to death, altered publication ban reveals." CBC News, July 20, 2026.

If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence or domestic abuse, help is available:

In Canada: Call or text 911 for emergencies, or reach out to the ShelterSafe network at sheltersafe.ca to find local support resources.

In the US: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788.

Image courtesy of CBC News.

07/22/2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO FOLLOWERS

07/20/2026

INQUEST OPENS INTO 2022 DEATH OF MONCTON MAN IN RCMP CUSTODY

SAINT JOHN, N.B. - A formal coroner's inquest opened Monday at the Saint John Law Courts to investigate the events surrounding the November 2022 death of Dennis Johnson, a 48-year-old man who went into medical distress while held in an RCMP holding cell in Moncton.

The proceedings stem from an incident on the night of November 19, 2022. Paramedics with Ambulance New Brunswick were the first to encounter Johnson as he stumbled along a city street following a minor argument with a friend. After Johnson reacted verbally aggressively to offers of assistance, first responders contacted the Codiac Regional RCMP out of safety concerns. Officers arrested Johnson for public intoxication and brought him to the detachment holding cells around 11:30 p.m.

According to testimony delivered on the first day of the inquest, cellblock guards and officers routinely checked on Johnson overnight and reported hearing loud snoring from his cell. Shortly after 3:00 a.m. on November 20, officers realized the snoring had stopped and found Johnson unresponsive on the floor.

RCMP officers immediately initiated CPR for approximately 20 minutes until paramedics arrived and restored a pulse. Johnson was transported to the Moncton Hospital, where medical tests revealed he had suffered cardiac arrest, resulting in severe brain tissue damage caused by oxygen deprivation. Doctors also noted that Johnson was positive for COVID-19 at the time of admission. Following a do-not-resuscitate order signed two days later, Johnson passed away in the intensive care unit on November 23, 2022.

The inquest was previously announced by the Department of Justice and Public Safety following an independent investigation by Nova Scotia's Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), which acts as New Brunswick;s police oversight body. The SiRT investigation concluded that there were no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against any of the officers involved.

Presiding Deputy Chief Coroner Michael Johnston informed the jury and courtroom that the inquest does not serve to assign legal liability or blame. Instead, the five-day proceeding is designated to publicly clarify the facts surrounding the death an provide the jury an opportunity to issue actionable recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in police custody in the future.

References:
- Government of New Brunswick. (2026, June 19). Coroner's inquest scheduled. Department of Justice and Public Safety.
- MacRae, Avery. (2026, July 20). Coroner's inquest into 2022 death of man in police custody begins in Saint John. CTV News Atlantic.
- CBC News. (2026, July 20). Inquest begins into 2022 death of Dennis Johnson following cardiac arrest in RCMP custody. CBC News New Brunswick.
- Tait, Bryan. (2026, June 19). Death in police custody leads to coroner's inquest. Your Saint John.

IMAGE SOURCE: CTV NEWS
A photo of the cell Dennis Johnson was held in.

07/20/2026

NOVA SCOTIA COURT OF APPEAL GRANTS EXTENSION TO CONVICTED KILLER RICHARD GEORGE WILLIS

In a major turn of events, a panel of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has overruled a previous single-judge decision, granting convicted killer Richard George Willis an extension of time to file an appeal of his conviction and sentence. The decision effectively revives Willis's legal challenge, giving him another opportunity to contest his life sentence for the murder of an elderly Dartmouth woman.

The appellate decision stems from the July 2020 death of 85-year-old Eleanor Harding. During his trial, the court heard that Willis, who once lived on the same street as Harding and knew her, walked more than seven kilometres to her Lynwood Drive home in Dartmouth. He slipped inside through a basement window, woke Harding from her sleep, and strangled her to death with a pair of jeans before ransacking her bedroom and stealing personal items. Harding's son discovered her body in her hallway more than a day later.

Following a jury trial in January 2024, Willis was found guilty of second-degree murder, which carries an automatic sentence of life imprisonment. In August 2024, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice James Chipmen finalized his sentencing, calling the crime "monstrous and evil" and describing Willis as a cowardly predator who targeted a defenceless, elderly woman. Justice Chipman set Willis's parole ineligibility period at 20 years, factoring in credit for time served to leave 16 years remaining before he could apply for release.

Under Canadian law, a convicted individual typically has a rigid 25-day window following sentencing to file a formal notice of appeal. Willis missed this deadline significantly, waiting nearly a year before moving forward with appellate documents. In his application for an extension, Willis argued that his ongoing incarceration and his limited legal understanding prevented him from submitting the paperwork within the standard timeline.

Initially, Willis's request was evaluated in chambers by a single appellate judge, Justice Cindy Bourgeois. In a written decision issued in early 2026, Justice Bourgeois rejected Willis's motion for an extension. She noted that the 356-day delay between his sentencing and the submission of his amended motion was an exceptionally significant passage of time.

Furthermore, Justice Bourgeois ruled that Willis failed to establish a reasonable excuse for the entire delay other than present substantial grounds for the appeal. She pointed out that the Crown's forensic case - which included significant DNA evidence linking Willis to the murder - was exceptionally compelling, and Willis's proposed ground did not adequately challenge the reliability or admissibility of that evidence.

Refusing to accept the single-judge dismissal, Willis took his request to a full panel of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal. In the updated proceedings, the appellate panel chose to overrule their colleague's initial assessment.

While a single chambers judge focuses heavily on the length of a delay and the perceived strength of the case, a full panel has the discretion to weigh broader interests of justice. Given that a second-degree murder conviction carries a lifelong sentence and permanent jeopardy, appellate panels occasionally show greater procedural flexibility to ensure an offender's rights to a full legal defence is exhausted. By granting this extension, the panel has cleared the path for Willis's legal counsel to formally submit their full facts and arguments, ensuring his case will be officially heard and debated before the highest court in Nova Scotia.

References:
- Bruce, S. (2026). Nova Scotia Court of Appeal panel grants convicted killer extension to file appeal. SaltWire.
- CBC News. (2024, August 2). Man convicted in 'evil' N.S. senior's murder once targeted elderly Winnipeg women. CBC News Nova Scotia.
- Global News. (2024, August 1). 'Monstrous': Judge scolds man guilty of killing 'defenceless little old lady'. Global News Atlantic.
- Mott, S. (2026, March 24). Man convicted of strangling elderly Nova Scotia woman denied appeal. CTV News Atlantic.
- Nova Scotia Court of Appeal. (2026), May 6). NSCA Chambers Docket: Richard George Willis Vs. His Majesty the King (CAC-541657). Courts of Nova Scotia.

07/20/2026

CYCLIST HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING INTERSECTION COLLISION IN MONCTON: A Reminder of Road Responsibilities

A weekend collision at a Moncton intersection has left a cyclist in the hospital and served as a stark reminder of the legal obligations shared by both motorists and bicycle riders on New Brunswick roadways.

Emergency crews, including the RCMP, Moncton Fire Department, and ambulance personnel, rushed to the intersection of Gordon Street and Dominion Street at approximately 12:45 p.m. following reports of a vehicle-bicycle collision.

According to an official statement from the RCMP, the incident occurred when the cyclist, who was travelling southbound on Dominion Street, entered the intersection without stopping at a posted stop sign. The cyclist was subsequently struck by an eastbound vehicle traveling on Gordon Street, which had the right of way as there are no stop signs controlling traffic in that direction.

First responders treated the cyclist at the scene before transporting them to a local hospital for further medical care. While an investigation remains underway, police have not yet released an update regarding the severity of the cyclist's injuries.

While the City of Moncton defers to the province for overarching traffic control, the legal rules governing bicycles within municipal limits are primarily dictated by the provincial New Brunswick Motor Vehicle Act. Under provincial law, bicycles are not viewed as pedestrian toys; rather, they are legally recognized as vehicles, binding cyclists to strict traffic regulations.

The Moncton collision highlights a fundamental rule laid out in the Motor Vehicle Act: cyclists must obey all traffic control devices, including stop signs and traffic lights, in the exact same manner as motor vehicles. Failing to halt at a posted stop sign constitutes a traffic violation and subjects the cyclist to shared or full liability - known legally as contributory negligence - should an accident occur.

References:
- Government of New Brunswick. (2024). Sharing the road safely for cyclists and drivers. Department of Justice and Public Safety.
- Government of New Brunswick. (1973). Motor Vehicle Act, RSNB 1973, c M-17 (Sections 177-181). CanLII.
- Lombard, N. (2026, July 20). Cyclist taken to hospital after collision in Moncton. CTV News Atlantic.
- MacGillivray Injury & Insurance Law. (2025). Bicycle accident lawyers in New Brunswick

IMAGE SOURCE: CTV News Atlantic

07/20/2026

07/20/2026

CASE UPDATE: Calvin Burns-Smith

Significant updates have emerged from New Brunswick's justice system, providing critical details on high-profile homicide proceedings and highlighting the long arc of criminal prosecution and appellate review in the province. According to recent court developments, the judicial framework has been formalized for the trial of a man accused in the tragic death of a missing Rothesay woman.

In a notable legal shift, Calvin Burns-Smith, 32, of Musquash, has re-elected to be tried by a judge alone, waiving his previous option for a jury trial. Burns-Smith faces charges of second-degree murder and offering an indignity to human remains in connection with the death of Sarah Teakles, a 26-year-old mother of two.

Teakles was initially reported missing on April 15, 2025, after being last seen in the community of Musquash. Following a brief and coordinated search, the New Brunswick RCMP Major Crime Unit assumed carriage of the file and located her vehicle and body two days later on April 17, 2025, in Maces Bay, a small coastal community in Charlotte County.

Burns-Smith, who was already in custody on unrelated threat charges involving another woman at the time of his arrest, had his initial charge upgraded from manslaughter to second-degree murder after the Crown filed a direct indictment. He is ordered to remain in custody until his trial, which is scheduled for an extended multi-week block, demonstrating the elongated timelines currently impacting provincial court systems.

Concurrently, another prominent legal battle reached its conclusion in the region. The New Brunswick Court of Appeal officially denied a conviction appeal launched by Riley Philips, 21, who was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years for the April 25, 2022, second-degree murder of 18-year-old Joedin Lloyd Leger. Leger was shot and killed during a "swarming: style home invasion at his Logan Lane duplex in Moncton. Philips was the only individual who entered the duplex and pulled the trigger.

Five other co-accused were prosecuted alongside Philips for their involvement in the deadly conspiracy to rob Leger.

The serious allegations against Calvin Burns-Smith in the death of Sarah Teakles reflect a broader, persistent crisis surrounding intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic homicide across the province. RCMP officials explicitly confirmed that the Major Crimes Unit investigated all potential elements of the Teakles homicide through the lens of intimate partner violence. Far from being isolated incidents, fatal domestic outcomes represent an ongoing challenge for regional law enforcement and community support networks.

The extreme danger inherent in domestic breakdowns was starkly illustrated in another recent Saint John court proceeding. A jury found Roman Kamyshnyy, 46, guilty on two counts of first-degree murder after he stabbed his two sons, aged 10 and 17, to death in their Millidgeville apartment.

The court heard that the killings occurred shortly after a November 2024 divorce that concluded a 20-year marriage. The Crown described the computational cruelty of the attack as being driven by vengeance against his ex-wife, who had moved the children to Canada to shelter them from mandatory military service in war-torn Ukraine. While Kamyshnyy claimed an alcohol-induced memory blackout, evidence proved he attacked the youngest child in his sleep and subsequently hunted down the eldest teenager as he attempted to escape. The case serves was a grim example of how abusers may target a partner's family members or children to exert ultimate control and retribution.

Criminological tracking data from provincial safety branches and the New Brunswick Silent Witness Project indicate that domestic homicides generally follow identifiable escalations of abusive behaviour.

In response to the critical need for civil, proactive protection before behaviour escalates to violence, New Brunswick enacted the Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Act. This statute allows individuals trapped in dangerous domestic situations to apply for immediate, short-term Emergency Intervention Orders.

These urgent civil orders provide immediate safety buffers, granting a victim temporary exclusive occupation of the family home while forcing the abusive partner to vacate the premises. Crucially, they also allow police to immediately seize any fi****ms or weapons possessed by the abuser and legally mandate a strict "no contact" provision while community outreach teams help the survivor establish a long-term safety plan.

References:
- Awde, S. (2025, April 22). Musquash man charged with manslaughter after missing woman found dead. CBC News.
- Bates, A. (2026, February 18). Man accused of killing Rothesay woman to face jury trial in 2027. Telegraph-Journal via CHCO TV.
- CBC News. (2025, April 4). Killer sentenced for shooting death of Joedin Leger in Moncton. CBC News.
- CBC News. (2026, January 26). Last of 6 charged in 2022 death of Moncton teen pleads guilty. CBC News.
- Global News. (2025, April 24). Man charged with killing N.B. woman in intimate partner violence investigation. Global News New Brunswick.
- Government of New Brunswick. (2018). Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Act, S.N.B. 2018, c. 33.
- Government of New Brunswick. (2024). Domestic and intimate partner violence (DIPV) risk assessment guide. Women's Equality Branch.
- MacKinnon, B. (2026, July 10). Man accused of murder, indignity to remains of Rothesay woman opts for judge-alone trial. CBC News.
- Moncton to Miramichi Court Desk. (2026, July 9). Court report: Man faces trial for woman's murder; killer's appeal denied. Telegraph-Journal.
- New Brunswick Court of Appeal. (2026, July 9). Philips v. R., 2026 NBCA 79.
- New Brunswick Silent Witness Project. (2012). Statistics on New Brunswick domestic homicides.
- Perry, J. (2026, July 15). Saint John man stabbed his own sons to death, altered publication ban reveals. CBC News.
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (2025, April 22). 31-year-old man charged in connection with death of 26-year-old woman. Government of Canada.
- Social Supports NB. (2026). Intimate partner violence resources and legal rights. Government of New Brunswick

07/20/2026

EXTREME RADICALIZATION ONLINE: N.S. Teen's Bail Conditions Highlight the Risks of Unmonitored Digital Spaces

A Nova Scotia youth court has released a 16-year-old from Bridgewater under unusually restrictive bail terms following his arrest for an alleged mass violence plot orchestrated entirely online. The strict conditions - which include total house arrest, a comprehensive ban on internet connected devices, and an explicit prohibition against accessing material related to terrorist groups or school shootings - underscore the growing role that unmonitored digital platforms play in the radicalization of minors.

The legal battle began in March when the Bridgewater Police Service received an urgent tip from international intelligence agencies, including Interpol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Federal agents had intercepted online communications between the Nova Scotia teenager and a 14-year-old residing in Rivers, Manitoba. The two youths had allegedly spent months utilizing digital platforms to coordinate simultaneous, violent attacks against their respective high schools: Parkview Education Centre in Bridgewater and Rivers Collegiate in Manitoba.

Following the tip, a raid on the Bridgewater suspect's residence uncovered handwritten operational plans, a crude imitation pipe bomb, imitation assault fi****ms, and apparel adorned with hate symbols.

The 16-year-old, whose identity is protected under a publication ban mandated by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, faces severe charges including uttering death threats, counselling someone to commit an indictable offence, and conspiracy to commit murder. At his mid-July bail hearing, the Crown consented to his release into the strict custody of two responsible adults. To mitigate the risk of further online radicalization, the court imposed severe digital limitations. The youth is barred from possessing a cellphone or any internet-accessible device, wears a monitoring bracelet to enforce a strict curfew, and is banned from online gaming networks with integrated chat features, such as Roblox. Furthermore, he is legally forbidden from interacting with or reading literature concerning terrorists, school shooters, or other perpetrators of mass violence.

The Bridgewater case highlights a shifting paradigm in how adolescents encounter dangerous materials. Historically, youth radicalization required physical proximity to extremist groups. Today, algorithmic echo chambers can expose children to white supremacist rhetoric, eco-terrorism, or mass casualty plotting directly through standard smartphones.

Similar digital vulnerabilities have manifested across Canada. At a Calgary high school, a former student faced attempted murder and terrorism-related charges after utilizing online spaces to plan a violent attack at a Calgary high school, emphasizing how digital isolation often precedes physical violence.

A 14-year-old in Woodstock, Ontario, faced criminal charges after leveraging web tools to coordinate an anonymous bomb threat against a local school, illustrating how digital anonymity lowers the threshold for criminal behaviour among minors.

In these cases, the legal outcomes often involve severe digital isolation as a condition of release or sentencing. For young brains still developing impulse control and critical thinking skills, the dopamine feedback loops of social media and algorithmic radicalization can create rapid pathways to criminal extremism.

As the internet remains a fundamental utility for education and socialization, implementing absolute bans on technology is rarely a practical or effective long-term solution for typical families. Instead, psychologists and digital safety experts recommend a proactive framework of "digital mentorship" rather than detached surveillance:
- Parents must understand that radicalization rarely begins on the dark web. It typically originates in the comment sections of mainstream platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, before migrating to private channels on Discord or Telegram. Regularly reviewing a child's download history and application settings is a necessary protective step.

- Utilizing built-in operating system locks (such as Apple's Screen Time or Google's Family Link) allows parents to restrict private browsing, block unapproved applications, and establish hard cut-off times for device usage.

- As demonstrated by the court's explicit ban on Roblox in the Bridgewater case, modern multiplayer video games are functional social media networks. Direct messaging features and user-generated rooms within children's games require the same level of oversight as standard social media applications.

- The most effective defence against online grooming and radicalization is maintaining an environment where a child feels comfortable discussing strange or upsetting content they encounter online without the immediate fear or losing their device privileges.

The stringent bail conditions handed down in the Bridgewater youth court serve as a stark reminder that online behaviour carries immense real-world consequences. For communities to prevent future cross-provincial conspiracies, the responsibility must shift toward active, early intervention in children's digital lives before international intelligence agencies are forced to step in.

References:
- Bruce, S. (2026, July 18). Bridgewater teen's bail conditions include ban on associating with terrorists. SaltWire.
- Rhodes, B. (2026, July 16). Bridgewater teen accused in school plot released on strict conditions. CBC News.
- The Canadian Press. (2026, June 26). Additional charge added for N.S. teen accused of planning attack on rural school. Halifax CityNews.