As was the case in the case of the murder of Guylaine Potvin, the charges of attempted murder and aggravated sexual assault against Marc-André Grenon in Quebec City are very likely to pass on the fast track, the Crown having announced on Tuesday his intention to file a privileged indictment.
• Read also: Arrested 22 years later for the murder of Guylaine Potvin
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Although there is still part of the evidence to be disclosed in the Quebec file, Marc-André Grenon’s lawyer, Ms.e Vanessa Pharand, declared Tuesday morning the will of her client to opt for a trial before a judge alone. The procedure would take place following the holding of a preliminary investigation.
However, in response to this desire, the Crown responded by revealing its intention to invoke section 577 of the Criminal Code. This provision, relatively uncommon, provides that the Attorney General can file a “privileged indictment” which sends a file directly to trial by avoiding the holding of the preliminary inquiry.
Me Pierre-Alexandre Bernard told the court that the filing of the request could be done on the next date, set for early June.
Same thing in the murder case
The same kind of request had been filed in the case of the murder of Guylaine Potvin, which occurred in Jonquière in April 2000, in which Grenon is also accused. The attempted murder, following a similar modus operandi, occurred a few months later, in July.
The defense has also indicated its willingness to file a request for a change of venue in the murder case, so that the trial is held elsewhere than in Saguenay. The claim of Grenon’s lawyers is that it would be difficult to form an impartial jury in the region.
This case will also return to court in June and the trial could be held somewhere in the fall.