Accused of sex crimes against minors, two basketball coaches from Saint-Laurent high school in Montreal were released on Friday, pending trial.
Robert Luu, 31, and Daniel Lacasse, 43, had been detained since their arrest on February 2.
The third defendant, Charles-Xavier Boislard, also 43 years old, had regained his freedom from his first appearance before a judge, after being imposed various conditions to respect.
The Crown, however, opposed the release of Robert Luu and Daniel Lacasse, the head of the school’s basketball program.
On Friday, Judge Yves Paradis of the Court of Quebec rendered his decision by which he released Robert Luu, subject to cash deposits from two members of his family as well as the respect of a series of conditions.
He was ordered not to communicate with the complainant, not to be near the places she frequents, nor to be present in places frequented by people under the age of 18, such as schools, daycares, community centers and swimming pools, which essentially prevents him from working as a sports coach in a school.
“These conditions are likely to reassure the court and the public,” commented the Crown prosecutor, Ms.and Bruno Ménard, leaving the room of the Montreal courthouse where the judgment was rendered.
As for Robert Luu’s lawyer, Ms.and Sharon Sandiford, she recalled that the rule is the release of an accused and that detention is the exception. And then, her client is presumed innocent, she insisted.
Given this result, M.and Bruno Ménard, who is also responsible for the file of the accused Daniel Lacasse, chose to consent to his release, with the imposition of a long list of conditions “which can, in our opinion, come to protect the public”, he said. They are similar to those decreed for Robert Luu, such as the prohibition to be in contact with the complainant and to be in the presence of minors.
The Crown prosecutor indicated that the judgment rendered the same day motivated his decision: Robert Luu faces more charges than Daniel Lacasse, and he was nevertheless released: in short, even by opposing it, he expected the same result.
Mand Eddy Ménard, the defendant’s lawyer, was succinct: my client “will comply with the conditions issued,” he said, adding that he is preparing the file for the next steps.
The three men were arrested on the same day, February 2. They were formally charged with various sex crimes the next day.
None of the three men have entered a plea yet.
Robert Luu was charged with three counts, namely sexual assault, sexual interference with a minor, as well as having incited a teenager under the age of 16 to perform sexual acts.
The same counts are alleged against Charles-Xavier Boislard, who also received a charge of sexual exploitation against a minor over whom he was in a position of authority or trust. This last count is the only one to have been filed against Daniel Lacasse.