The wife of the couple who allegedly posted a babysitting ad for the purpose of sexually assaulting the children they were babysitting will plead that she was under the domination of her spouse and will present a defense of duress at her trial.
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In February 2021, the Unit against the sexual exploitation of minors of the Quebec City police service had succeeded in thwarting a Machiavellian plan which would have targeted the assault of a child by a couple from Quebec.
Guy Boutin, 48, and Julie Blackburn, 33, were arrested and charged with a rarely brought count of arranging to commit a sexual offense against a child.
The couple reportedly had a plan in place years ago, then posted an ad on the Kijiji site to offer babysitting services.
The objective was thus to interfere in families and to sexually attack the children under their responsibility.
Pictures of a naked girl
The evidence reveals that Julie Blackburn did in fact babysit a six-year-old girl and sent 11 naked photos of the child to her spouse.
The defendant’s lawyer, Me Louis Belliard, does not dispute that these photos found in Blackburn’s cell phone are child pornography and that it is production.
He also does not dispute that the 811 photographic files found in the couple’s house are possession of child pornography, although the criminal lawyer has announced that he will dispute the ownership.
Duress defense
Me Belliard thus indicated that he was going to present a defense of duress, believing that his client was under the domination of her spouse, Guy Boutin, and “therefore, not responsible” for the charges brought against her. An expert who met the accused for the trial was thus announced.
During her arrest, the woman was subjected to an interrogation during which she gave herself up to the investigators for more than four hours.
It was in connection with this statement that an additional bestiality charge was filed against her.
Julie Blackburn has been detained at Leclerc Institution since her arrest.
His trial will take place at the end of September. Guy Boutin’s trial is scheduled for April 2023.