Three years in prison for killing an elder by throwing him down the stairs

SAINT-JÉRÔME | A young man who threw an elder down a flight of stairs, causing his death, was sent to prison on Friday for the next three years, much to the relief of the victim’s family.

“At one point it was thought he would just have community service. At least he is inside, “said Hélène Bernier, 67, sister of the victim Jacques Bernier, relieved when he left the courtroom at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse in the morning.

Shortly before, Samuel Charbonneau, 28, who involuntarily caused the death of the 71-year-old eldest, heard Judge Nancy McKenna impose this penitentiary sentence on him.

“We are very satisfied. The judgment adheres to the sentencing suggestion that we had proposed to him,” commented Mr.^e Steve Baribeau, Crown Attorney.

The defense had instead proposed a sentence below the bar of two years’ imprisonment.

Shortly before being handcuffed in the dock, Charbonneau had spent his last moments of freedom toasting a cigarette with his loved ones outside, a smile on his face.

However, they were in tears when recalling the facts of the tragedy that took place on September 11, 2021, in the small municipality of Huberdeau, in the Laurentians.

Threats and insults

During this evening, the accused and a friend walked in front of the duplex where the septuagenarian lived.

In the midst of a pandemic, when passers-by were not wearing a mask, Mr. Bernier threatened and insulted them, from his balcony, at the top of about fifteen metal stair steps, about three meters from the ground.

The latter responded to the one who was recognized in his neighborhood to insult passers-by, but still continued on their way.

However, after getting drunk at the local bar, Charbonneau came back to knock on the eldest, still claiming to this day to have intended to discuss with him, in order to understand his attitude.

“What objective did he believe he was achieving by going to knock on the victim’s house at 10:15 p.m., when he himself was heavily intoxicated by alcohol? Indeed, no condition conducive to dialogue exists”, decided the magistrate, who described this explanation as “incredible”.

“His visit was not motivated by a desire for dialogue and exchange in the tone of understanding and listening,” she continued.

Not passive

Especially since after having again quarreled with his victim and having pushed him with both hands in the back, Charbonneau left the scene.

He went back to bragging about his achievement at the bar, instead of helping the struggling man after his heavy fall.

“I bumped it down the stairs. I bumped into him at the bottom of the stairs. I am in c * lice”, he would have boasted with a waitress of the place, who filled out a declaration.

“His actions, his admission in questioning that he was going to confront the victim, highlighted with his behavior after the bar, clearly demonstrate that the accused was angry and in no way passive,” said Justice McKenna.

The death of Mr. Bernier occurred on October 3 following, at the hospital.

Charbonneau had surrendered to the authorities the day after the tragedy, and he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He had no criminal record.