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Criminal investigation launched in Canada python deaths Criminal investigation launched in Canada python deaths
(35 minutes later)
Police in the Canadian province of New Brunswick have launched a criminal probe into the apparent killing of two young boys by an escaped snake.Police in the Canadian province of New Brunswick have launched a criminal probe into the apparent killing of two young boys by an escaped snake.
Investigators hope to establish if the African rock python's owner, who runs a pet store, had followed all the rules.Investigators hope to establish if the African rock python's owner, who runs a pet store, had followed all the rules.
Connor and Noah Barthe, aged six and four, were sleeping over with the son of the shop's owner in a flat above the Campbellton shop on Sunday night. Connor and Noah Barthe, aged six and four, were sleeping over in the flat above the Campbellton shop on Sunday night with their friend.
The 4.3m (14ft) python, suspected of strangling the boys, has been put down.The 4.3m (14ft) python, suspected of strangling the boys, has been put down.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, police said the bodies of the two boys had been removed from the flat on Monday night and taken to the local morgue. At a press briefing on Tuesday, police said the bodies of the two boys had been removed from the apartment on Monday night.
'Horrific scene'
They were taken to the province's city of Saint John for post-mortem examinations.They were taken to the province's city of Saint John for post-mortem examinations.
'Unreal' Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Alain Tremblay was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: "It's a criminal investigation. We're going to look at all avenues."
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Seargent Alain Tremblay was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: "It's a criminal investigation. We're going to look at all avenues."
According to initial reports, the 100lb (45kg) snake escaped from the pet store.
But police said on Tuesday that the serpent had been kept in a glass cage inside the flat above the Reptile Ocean pet store.
Investigators believe it somehow escaped from the enclosure, before falling from a ceiling ventilation duct into the living room where the boys were sleeping.
The reptile was captured by police in the room where the boys were found, and later destroyed by a veterinarian.
Also at the briefing, the family of the victims described the boys' final day.
"They were two typical children," the statement said. "Their last day was spent playing with their friends and swimming in their small pool, and then had a barbeque."
The boys later went with their family to play with cats and dogs at the farm of Jean-Claude Savoie, Reptile Ocean's owner.
The two young brothers then slept over at their friend's flat above the pet shop.
Mr Savoie said he thought the boys were sleeping until he turned the lights on.
"I seen this horrific scene," he said.
Mr Savoie said the boys were his best friend's children and had come to visit his own son, who was sleeping in another room and was unharmed.
He has told reporters he had owned the python for at least 10 years. The snake was normally kept alone in its enclosure and not handled by anyone else, he said.
No charges have been filed in the case.No charges have been filed in the case.
According to initial reports, the 100lb (45kg) snake escaped from the Reptile Ocean exotic pet store.
But police said on Tuesday that the serpent had been kept in a glass cage inside the flat above the shop.
Jean-Claude Savoie, Reptile Ocean's owner, said the snake somehow escaped from the enclosure, before entering a ventilation duct and falling into the living room where the boys were sleeping.
Mr Savoie said he thought the boys were sleeping until he turned the lights on and was confronted by "this horrific scene".
Police captured the reptile in the room where the boys were found, and it was later destroyed by a veterinarian.
Mr Savoie said the boys were his best friend's children and had come to visit his own son, who was sleeping in another room and was unharmed.
Also at Tuesday's briefing, the boys' great-uncle described their final day before going to sleep in the flat above the pet shop.
"They were two typical children," the family statement said. "Their last day was spent playing with their friends and swimming in their small pool, and then they had a barbecue."
The boys later went with their family to play with cats and dogs at Mr Savoie's farm.
The pet-shop owner has told reporters he owned the python for at least 10 years.
The snake was normally kept alone in its enclosure and not handled by anyone else, he said.