(Quebec) François Legault claims to have misspoken when he said last Friday that he was “glad that we got rid” of the alleged perpetrator of the triple murder that shook Montreal and Laval last week. The suspect Abdulla Shaikh, who was shot dead by the officers, suffered from serious mental health issues.
Posted at 12:44 p.m.
“What I wanted to say is that I am happy that the suspect has been put out of harm’s way,” rectified the Prime Minister on Monday. “Obviously, I was not happy that he died, we do not want that. There are people who do have mental health issues. There, there will be an investigation by the coroner and the police to see why this person was released, ”continued Mr. Legault.
The Prime Minister answered questions from journalists on Monday during a visit to Sept-Îles on the North Shore where he confirmed his candidate in Duplessis, Kateri Champagne Jourdain. Last Friday, François Legault wondered why Abdulla Shaikh had “been released” when he was “already targeted” by accusations and had mental health problems.
“I’m glad we got rid of this individual,” he said the day after the death of the suspect, shot dead by the police in a motel in the borough of Saint-Laurent. His remarks caused some controversy. Abdulla Shaikh’s former lawyer said such a statement “is abhorrent from a prime minister”.
“The blood made me three turns when I heard that. I was stunned. This is unacceptable, ”protested M.e François Legault, who has the same name as the Prime Minister, in an interview at The Press. He added that “even the worst criminals” have “the right to a fair and just trial, to present a defense and to be defended”. According to Me Legault, this kind of remark can also be “very stigmatizing for people who suffer from mental disorders”.
Recall that Abdulla Shaikh was diagnosed with schizophrenia and narcissistic and antisocial personality traits, according to court documents. In 2016, he was charged with sexual assault and assault with a weapon, among other charges. His trial was scheduled for next January, in Laval. It was also revealed that the Mental Disorders Review Board authorized the release of Abdulla Shaikh last March, even though he posed a “significant risk to public safety”.
With Lea Carrier