Saint John man faces 1st-degree murder charge

A 30-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Monday's attack on a woman in east Saint John parking lot

More than a dozen people were in a Saint John courtroom on Tuesday as Jason Getson was charged with the murder of Melanie Getson, 28.

The handful of the spectators sat in the back of the courtroom holding white daisies.

Getson, who had two deep gashes on his head, kept his eyes down when he waited for the charge to be read.

When Getson told the court he understands the charge of first-degree murder, one of the women holding a flower inhaled deeply and then began crying.

Getson was remanded to custody on Monday afternoon for an in-jail assessment, which will determine his fitness to stand trial. He will appear in court again on May 20.

Saint John Police Sgt. Pat Bonner said the two were in a relationship but Melanie Getson was living at a different address at the time of her attack.

Bonner would not comment on the current status of their relationship.

Police were called to the end of Rothesay Avenue on Monday morning, where Melanie Getson had been assaulted outside a tanning salon.

Officers did not find a weapon at the scene but say whatever was used was sharp.

The police arrested Getson later Monday afternoon in west Saint John.