The twelve jurors chosen Monday morning as part of Carl Girouard’s trial will have to establish whether he can be found not criminally responsible for the acts committed on the night of October 31, 2020, in Quebec City, due to his mental disorders.
26-year-old Carl Girouard faces two charges of first degree murder and five charges of attempted murder. Two people (Suzanne Clermont and François Duchesne) perished by his hand, and five others were seriously injured.
“What is special” in this trial is that the Defense “does not deny that the accused committed acts”, explained Judge Richard Grenier during his presentation to the prospective jurors. “The issue in this case (is about) the mental condition of the defendant at the time of the incidents that occurred. »
To have him declared not criminally responsible, his lawyer Pierre Gagnon will not have to present proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but “preponderant” proof, also indicated the judge. In addition to psychiatric experts, the defense attorney indicated that he would have the defendant’s mother testify as well as correctional officers.
100% vaccinated jury
Much of Monday morning focused on jury selection. Right off the bat, the judge explained that he would require all jurors to be properly vaccinated. A woman was also excluded from the outset because she had not been immunized.
Another lady was exempted due to health problems; a man because he has to take care of his sick mother. The head of a daycare center and a tax specialist in the middle of tax season were also able to be exempted for professional reasons.
To be eligible for the positions, the candidates had to say in particular that they agreed with the principle of the presumption of innocence and with the fact that a person could be declared not criminally responsible for mental disorders if they prove it.
Lawyers estimate that the trial should last between four and five weeks.
To see in video