The author of the massacre in Old Quebec was sentenced Friday morning to life in prison without the possibility of release for 25 years. Judge Richard Grenier stressed that he “committed absolutely atrocious crimes” and that he destroyed the lives “of a multitude of people”.
Carl Girouard received the maximum sentence, the Supreme Court having recently invalidated the article of the criminal code limiting access to parole to 25 years for multiple murders.
The 26-year-old man was found guilty on all counts brought against him by the jury on May 21. All that remained was to determine the prison sentence that would be imposed on him.
Had it not been for the Supreme Court’s decision, there could have been a debate on the relevance of postponing his access to parole beyond 25 years. Since this possibility no longer existed in the Criminal Code, the judge’s decision was no more than a formality.
Relatives of victims speak out
Relatives of the victims, however, wanted to be heard before the decision was made, including the sister of François Duchesne, Marie-Josée Duchesne, by videoconference from Paris. “He was more than a brother, more than an uncle, he was an irreplaceable being,” she said in a long message. “This sadness will follow us until our last breath. Nothing can cure this absence. »
The mother of the deceased, Renée Rioux also wanted to speak in a brief letter. “I am 83 and my remaining years are wasted,” she wrote. “My son was a very good being.”
Suzanne Clermont’s sister-in-law also came to read a particularly incisive message for the assassin who was behind her when she spoke. “You are behind me. I hope you don’t put your fingers in your ears while swaying to simulate some disorder,” said Marie-Claude Veilleux. “You butchered my sister-in-law. »
To a call
Carl Girouard’s legal journey is not over, however, since his lawyer formally filed a notice of appeal on Friday. As soon as the verdict was pronounced, Me Pierre Gagnon had declared to the media that errors of law had been made, according to him, during the trial.
Further details will follow.