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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 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 in the flat above the Campbellton shop on Sunday night with their friend. | 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 apartment on Monday night. | 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' | '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. |
| 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 Sergeant Alain Tremblay was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: "It's a criminal investigation. We're going to look at all avenues." |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 youngsters 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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 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 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. | The snake was normally kept alone in its enclosure and not handled by anyone else, he said. |