Roger Hilyard Crossman, a 62-year old Sackville man, is charged with the first degree murder of his spouse, Marlene Arsenault-Crossman, at their home on King Street in Sackville on Oct. 12.

He appeared by video link in a Moncton provincial court room on Thursday.

Marlene Arsenault-Crossman was an Amherst native, and for the past few years beloved manager of the Amherst Theatre. She left behind two sons and their families, as well as a number of brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Members of Marlene’s family were in court on Thursday.

Shortly after Roger Crossman appeared in court, Crown Prosecutor Martine Cormier asked Constable Andrew Paynter of the RCMP Major Crimes Unit to bring forward new charges against him. In addition to first degree murder, Crossman is now also charged with the dismemberment or mutilation of his wife’s remains.

Crossman did not have a lawyer present, and told the court he had applied for legal aid assistance and was waiting to hear back. After Judge Ronald LeBlanc temporarily cleared the courtroom, a legal aid lawyer on duty met with Crossman privately. When court resumed, that lawyer told court that Crossman had applied to Legal Aid two and a half weeks before, and requested an adjournment to allow time for Crossman to be assigned and meet with a new lawyer.

Crossman has been in custody since October 12, undergoing a psychiatric evaluation. The results of that evaluation were not discussed in court Thursday, which had originally been slated as a fitness hearing.

Crossman remains in police custody, and is due back in court on Nov. 23.