In the ongoing murder trial in Sarnia, Surie Landry-Caudle, the then-girlfriend of Joshua Tomlinson, testified about a crucial evening. She recalled Tomlinson arriving home late on Jan. 26, 2021, sporting new attire—a fresh pair of boots and a baseball hat. What caught her attention was the absence of the shoes and coat he had worn the previous day. Adding to the intrigue, Tomlinson exhibited an injury, a cut on his left hand.
The trial revolves around Tomlinson, 38, and Noah Brown, 31, who pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and breaking and entering. The victim, Allen Schairer, a 62-year-old photographer, was found stabbed to death in his home bathtub after his car was discovered abandoned on the outskirts of the city earlier that day.
Landry-Caudle’s testimony painted a picture of the events leading up to Schairer’s tragic death. She recounted receiving a message from Tomlinson’s account early that Tuesday, claiming he was at a friend’s playing poker and would return home at 6 a.m. While the Crown aimed to establish the receipt of the message rather than its authenticity, Landry-Caudle confirmed its reception. Tomlinson, however, didn’t return until later that afternoon, donning unfamiliar clothes and carrying new items like a Bluetooth speaker, a phone, and various knickknacks.
The witness mentioned assisting Tomlinson in tending to his hand injury, allegedly caused by a putty spatula during a painting mishap. Despite the injury, Tomlinson opted against seeking medical treatment, according to Landry-Caudle.
During cross-examination, Terry Brandon, Tomlinson’s lawyer, delved into their relationship dynamics and Tomlinson’s troubled history, including a prior addiction to fentanyl and a criminal record involving commercial break-ins and probation violations.
The trial’s progression sheds light on the complexities surrounding the case, with testimonies revealing pieces of a puzzle that investigators and legal teams are meticulously piecing together to uncover the truth behind Schairer’s untimely demise.
