(Quebec) The saber killer of Old Quebec was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of release for 25 years by Judge Richard Grenier for his “absolutely atrocious crimes”.
Posted at 10:02
Updated at 10:52 a.m.
But this may not be the end point of this sordid story, since the killer’s lawyer filed a notice of appeal at the Quebec courthouse at the same time.
“I completely agree with the verdict of the jury, I do not believe that you meet the criteria of article 16. I nevertheless believe that you suffer from mental disorders”, declared the judge Grenier.
The magistrate indicated that according to him, the killing could have been avoided if the killer had been taken care of more quickly by a psychiatrist.
Carl Girouard will be able to request a release no earlier than October 31, 2045. But Judge Grenier recalled that a life sentence, “is life”.
Just before the verdict, the killer’s lawyer filed a request for appeal, saying that “errors of law” were made by the trial judge.
- Judge Richard Grenier would have erred, because he did not give a directive to the jury enjoining them not to draw “an inference of guilt” from Carl Girouard’s silence during his interrogation;
- The judge allegedly erred in preventing the defense from questioning a prosecution expert, Dr.r Sylvain Faucher, regarding reprimands by the Court against the psychiatrist for statements that exceeded his expertise in the past;
- Judge allegedly erred in omitting instructions to jurors to disregard Dr Faucher on the credibility of Carl Girouard’s testimony.
Victims and relatives testified Friday at the Quebec City courthouse, during sentencing submissions.
Carl Girouard killed François Duchesne, 56, and Suzanne Clermont, 61, on October 31, 2020. He also injured five.