Arrest in death of Canadian actor

By J.K. Radomski

MONTREAL — Police charged a 21-year-old man Tuesday with first-degree murder in connection with the death of actor Richard Niquette.

Niquette, 44, was found dead Sunday night, after being stabbed three times in the heart. A passerby discovered his naked body on a snowbank in Montreal’s east end.

Police discovered a trail of blood that led from the crime scene to a nearby apartment where they found some of Niquette’s belongings.

The apartment’s tenant, Sylvain Jomphe, was accompanied by a lawyer when he turned himself in for questioning early Tuesday morning after hearing about the crime.

Police released Jomphe but later arrested and charged him Tuesday night with first-degree murder.

Jomphe will be detained until his hearing on March 28.

Lt. Detective Jean-Francois Martin of Montreal’s homicide squad said he suspected robbery was a possible motive for the murder, Montreal’s sixth this year, because Niquette was seen at a bar on the evening of his death with more than $300 in cash.

Niquette, known for his supporting roles, played a sports reporter on the popular CBC drama Lance et Compte (He Shoots, He Scores), and a security guard in Roger Cantin’s fantasy film, L’Assassin Jouait du Trombone (The Assassin Played the Trombone).

The actor’s last role was the host of an interactive-television murder-mystery show that invited viewers to help solve the crime.

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