Relatives of a nearly paralyzed woman who died in horrific circumstances deplore the fact that her husband, convicted of manslaughter for failing to provide her with necessary care, gets away with house arrest for 18 months.
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“It’s like we’ve been punched. We are discouraged and stunned. Bruno [Turcotte] will be able to spend Christmas with his family, but we lost a sister, a mother,” said Diane Bilodeau.
In September 2020, her sister Johanne Bilodeau was rushed to hospital while moaning in pain. The 58-year-old woman died less than 24 hours later of septic shock due to widespread infection.
She was completely dependent on the care of her husband Bruno Turcotte since her stroke in 2011 which left her with serious after-effects preventing her from moving around, eating and hydrating herself.
Following a jury trial, the caregiver was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for failing to provide basic and medical care in the weeks and months before his death.
Put in context
According to Judge Daniel W. Payette, the verdict must be placed in context: “It is sufficient to remember that the offense took place over a short period after more than nine years without incident. Mr. Turcotte takes adequate care of his wife, but the situation changes abruptly. […] He lets himself be overwhelmed beyond reason,” he said while handing down his sentence this morning at the Laval courthouse.
Recall that Mme Bilodeau was rushed to hospital in terrible condition. Dirty hair, long and dirty nails, crusty legs and hands: his personal hygiene was poor, several nurses described at the trial.
However, there is no link between hygiene and the ability to fight an infection, noted the judge, relying on the testimony of a doctor.
Septic shock set in in the hours preceding hospitalization, according to the magistrate. “The evidence demonstrates a delay in medical personnel themselves making a diagnosis and acting accordingly. We cannot blame Mr. Turcotte for not doing better,” he continued.
At the time of her death, the lady also had nine ulcers on her back, a fistula leaking pus and infected sores down to the bones. “The evidence does not establish [que Turcotte] had real knowledge of the risks,” commented Judge Payette.
He also recalled that the victim had refused a few years earlier to go to a CHSLD to be able to take baths and that she was reluctant to visits and medical examinations.
Surprising suggestion
Judge Payette found himself faced with two diametrically opposed sentence suggestions. The Crown suggested 10 years of imprisonment, “a position which is surprising,” he said. He instead sided with the proposal made by the defense lawyer, Mr.e Marc Labelle.
“We don’t have the impression that justice is done,” added Diane Bilodeau to Newspaper.
“The sentence departs significantly from what we had pleaded for. We will take the time to read the long decision to see if we appeal,” underlined the Crown prosecutor, Ms.e Karine Dalphond.
Turcotte will also have to respect “severe conditions”, such as remaining at home 24 hours a day for the first 12 months and performing 240 hours of community service.