A Saint John man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife on Carmarthen Street over the weekend.

Joseph Paul Irving, 53, is accused of killing Cynthia Irving, 45.

He has been ordered to undergo a criminal responsibility assessment.

Irving sat expressionless during a brief appearance in provincial court on Monday afternoon, as about a dozen friends and family members looked on. He remains remanded in custody.

He is scheduled to return to court on April 14.

The cause of death has not yet been determined. Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy being conducted at the Saint John Regional Hospital, said Sgt. Jay Henderson.

Sgt. Jay Henderson says autopsy results are expected shortly. (CBC) "We are assuming that the results should be in shortly," he said.

Police continue to investigate after being called to 205 Carmarthen St. about a suspicious death on Sunday at about noon.

Officers discovered Cynthia Irving's body.

Joseph Irving was arrested at the scene, said Henderson, declining to say whether he was the one who called police.

He also declined to say whether any children were involved. "That's details I can't release at this point in time."

The home remained cordoned off with yellow caution tape on Monday and the street was blocked off with barricades between Saint Andrews Street and St. James Street.

"We have some ident officers as well as our major crime unit processing the scene. We anticipate that we'll be holding the scene for today and probably most of the day tomorrow," said Henderson.

Officers were on the scene for several hours on Sunday, taking statements from people who live in the area.