The two individuals who were allegedly hired by a Joliette businessman to kill a Montérégie lawyer were acquitted of attempted murder charges.
• Read also: Attempted murder: a businessman filmed with one of the accused
“An in-depth analysis of the evidence makes it possible to establish beyond any reasonable doubt that it was the defendants who went to Me Daudelin”, however ruled this morning Judge Stéphane Godri, at the Longueuil courthouse.
“By discharging four shots, one can only establish that the accused knew that [la vie de la victime était] endangerment”, he continued, in his decision which had been awaited since last May.
Cheikh Ahmed Tidiane Ndiaye, 42, and Daouda Dieng, 36, were therefore found guilty of discharging a firearm with the intent to endanger the life of lawyer Nicholas Daudelin, March 26, 2020 , in Mont-Saint-Hilaire.
They were, however, acquitted of attempted murder, intimidation and obstruction of justice.
The two individuals showed up at the 32-year-old man’s house, then one of them fired through his front door, hitting him in the leg.
According to the lawsuit’s theory, it was Jean-François Malo, a Joliette real estate developer also accused in this case, who ordered the attack.
During the trial, the prosecution introduced videotapes showing the three men meeting on several occasions in the days surrounding the attempted murder.
At the time, Malo was in a civil dispute of a few million dollars with Mouvement Desjardins, represented by Me Daudelin.
“However, the judge recognized a certain link [entre les accusés] and Mr. Malo. So what is for Mr. Malo, I invite you to follow his trial, ”commented on leaving the court room Me Tian Meng, Crown prosecutor.
“The defendants were still found guilty on a count punishable by 14 years [de prison]one of the most serious counts of the criminal code,” she added.
Malo is expected to face justice separately in 2023.