Roman Kamyshnyy bought a nail gun four days before he allegedly murdered two boys in Saint John. The Crown contends he used this tool to attempt suicide following the killings, according to a report by CBC News.

Kamyshnyy, 46, faces two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of a 10 year old and a 17 year old on Jan. 29, 2025. Police discovered their bodies inside a Millidgeville apartment after receiving a 911 call from the older victim. The Crown argues Kamyshnyy stabbed the boys in an act of vengeance against his former partner before turning the nail gun on himself. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Nail Gun Purchase Tracked to Local Store

Det. Const. Scott Prentice of the Saint John Police Force testified he traced the origin of the nail gun found at the crime scene. Police located an orange storage case inside the apartment containing low velocity drive nails with a specific SKU number.

Prentice confirmed the purchase happened at a Home Depot on the east side of the city. He obtained a sales receipt for $574.98 dated Jan. 25, 2025. Bank records showed a transaction for the exact amount on Kamyshnyy’s account. The prosecution also played store security footage showing a man in a blue winter jacket leaving the store with an orange case and a brown paper bag.

Jail Guards Report Startling Statements

The court heard testimony from two correctional officers regarding statements Kamyshnyy allegedly made while in custody.

Melissa Larsen, a guard at the Saint John Regional Correctional Centre, testified about a conversation on Nov. 23, 2025. Kamyshnyy expressed concerns about his placement in protective custody. Larsen explained he faced danger from the general population due to the nature of his charges. The next day, Kamyshnyy handed her an unprompted letter to explain he was not a bad person. Later, when Larsen asked him why he killed the boys, he allegedly replied he got highly intoxicated on wine, forgot his actions, and asked for God’s forgiveness every day.

Joey Raymond, a guard at the Dalhousie Correctional Centre, shared a separate incident from April 7, 2025. When Kamyshnyy arrived at the facility, other inmates looked up his charges and became hostile. Raymond pulled him into the hallway for his safety. Kamyshnyy asked if he will face this reaction everywhere. When Raymond confirmed he will, Kamyshnyy allegedly responded that it is not too bad because he just killed the two boys. Raymond noted Kamyshnyy spoke in a normal conversational tone and showed no signs of impairment.

Judge Instructs the Jury

Justice Darrell Stephenson told the jurors they must decide whether they believe the testimony from the correctional officers before using it to reach a verdict. He instructed them to consider the context of the statements and avoid speculation. He also warned them to be careful about inferring guilt based on subsequent conduct, noting other explanations exist.

The trial continues at the Court of King’s Bench in Saint John until June 26.

Frequently Asked Questions

What charges does Roman Kamyshnyy face?

Roman Kamyshnyy faces two counts of first degree murder in the deaths of a 10 year old and a 17 year old boy.

What evidence did the police present regarding the nail gun?

Police presented a receipt, bank records, and security footage showing Kamyshnyy purchased the nail gun at a local Home Depot four days before the killings.

What did the accused allegedly tell jail guards?

Kamyshnyy allegedly told one guard he was intoxicated and asked for God’s forgiveness every day. He allegedly told another guard he killed the two boys after inmates became hostile toward him.

When will the trial conclude?

The trial is scheduled to continue until June 26 at the Court of King’s Bench in Saint John.