Steeve Gagnon, the man accused of killing three pedestrians and injuring several others with his van in Amqui last March, began his preliminary investigation on Monday.
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With lowered shoulders and wearing dark clothes, the 39-year-old accused did not flinch while the first witnesses recounted their memories in connection with this day which left its mark on the small community of 6,200 souls in Bas-Saint -Laurent.
The content of the testimonies is, however, subject to a non-publication order which prevents us from reporting the content, at the request of the prosecution and the defense, in order not to harm the outcome of the proceedings.
The tone is serious in the courtroom of the Amqui courthouse, given the disturbing tenor of the events that took place nearby less than a year ago.
14 charges
Gagnon, a resident of Amqui, faces 14 charges, including three of premeditated murder, nine of attempted murder and two of dangerous driving causing death.
He is suspected of having been at the controls of the van which hit walkers on the sidewalk of Route 132 in the city center on March 13, on a beautiful afternoon, including two children and elderly people.
The tragedy cost the lives of Gérald Charest and Jean Lafrenière, whose death was quickly pronounced, as well as Simon-Guillaume Bourget, who succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
“What I saw was horror. I saw people get hit by the truck. I’m still shaking,” said a witness to the scene at the time.
Many questions
Even today, we do not know what would have pushed the alleged murderer, who had turned himself in to the authorities after the events, to descend into this murderous madness.
In the hours preceding the tragedy, Steeve Gagnon had made completely disjointed remarks on social networks. The next day, Prime Minister François Legault suggested that he “was perhaps already identified” as being at risk.
Watched by constables in the dock, Gagnon remained disciplined during the hearing Monday morning, looking sometimes at the ground, sometimes at his lawyer, and bringing his handcuffed hands to his face from time to time.
Thirty witnesses
The preliminary investigation, which aims to establish whether the evidence collected is sufficient for a trial to be held, was initially scheduled to take place in September before being postponed until the beginning of the year.
The procedure will take place throughout the week, with around thirty witnesses expected to be heard. However, the public prosecutor will have to do without one of them, given that he has died.
Gagnon’s lawyer, M.e Hugo Caissy, has already signaled his intention to proceed by trial before judge and jury.
–With TVA News