On the evening of November 16, 2019, Stéphane Massé told his partner that he had “a surprise for her”, then stabbed her 119 times: this is the appalling story presented to the jury by the Crown in the trial of 41-year-old man at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courthouse on Tuesday.
The opening statement by prosecutor Ms. Hélène Langis also reveals that the relationship between Linda Lalonde and her partner had been affected by Stéphane Massé’s cocaine consumption.
The trial of the latter, accused of the murder of the 49-year-old woman, began Tuesday in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield before judge Yvan Poulin.
Linda Lalonde was found dead in November 2019 in her house on rue Verner, in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK
Stéphane Massé
The accused himself presented himself at a police station in Montreal on the evening of the tragedy, claiming to have killed his partner.
Cocaine use
The accused and the victim had been a couple for several years. “Everything seemed to be going well in the best of all possible worlds,” explains M.e Langis in his opening statement. Mr. Massé worked as a pizza deliveryman. During his shifts, he used cocaine. “This greatly displeased Mr.me Lalonde,” underlined the crown.
However, in the weeks preceding the murder, Linda Lalonde gave him an ultimatum: it would be “her, or the coke,” said M.e Langis.
The accused went to the victim’s house on the evening of November 15 after his shift. He finds his partner there, sitting at the table, back to him. He told her to close her eyes, that he had “a surprise for her.” » He took a knife “the biggest knife”, then stabbed her, explains the Crown.
The autopsy revealed 119 blows made with a sharp object, continued the prosecutor.
Confessions filmed
There were no eyewitnesses to the events. However, Stéphane Massé presented himself at a Montreal neighborhood police station, telling the police that he had killed his partner. He reportedly confessed in detail to what happened before and after the murder. “You will hear from him what happened that night,” explained M.e Langie.
The video recording of the alleged murderer’s statement to the police on the evening of the tragedy will be presented to the jury during the trial.
The accused is defended by Mr.e Martin Latour while the public prosecutor is represented by Me Hélène Langis and Me Lili Prévost-Gravel.