In a notable turn during Charles Lassonde’s murder trial, prosecutor Stéphanie Landry surprised the jury by announcing she would not cross-examine the defendant. The defense indicated they would not call further witnesses, concluding the evidence phase. Lassonde claimed his actions aimed to intimidate Serge Boutin, attributing Boutin’s death to his ex-partner, Lana Dubois, who denied involvement. The jury sought to question Lassonde about his police cooperation, but their request was denied. Deliberations will resume on January 17.
Dramatic Developments in Charles Lassonde’s Murder Trial
In a surprising twist during the first-degree murder trial of Charles Lassonde, prosecutor Stéphanie Landry informed the jury of 13 on Thursday morning that she would not be cross-examining the defendant. This unexpected announcement left the courtroom in a state of astonishment, even prompting a reaction from Judge Claude Villeneuve.
Earlier in the proceedings, Judge Villeneuve had indicated that the jurors were about to hear the cross-examination of Lassonde. However, Ms. Landry’s declaration immediately shifted the dynamics of the trial. “The Crown has no questions to ask the accused,” she stated, which led to widespread surprise among those present.
Closing Arguments and Jury’s Queries
The defense team subsequently notified the jury that they would not be presenting any additional witnesses, effectively closing the evidence from both sides. During his testimony, Charles Lassonde, represented by lawyer Martin Latour, attributed the death of Serge Boutin to his ex-partner, Lana Dubois. Lassonde claimed that his intention was merely to intimidate Boutin by dumping dirt on him in a quarry on the night of July 6-7, 2021, rather than to harm him seriously.
“We were just trying to scare him. There was never any intention to bury him alive or anything,” Lassonde asserted. He recounted that during the incident, Dubois picked up a rock and threw it at Boutin’s head, which he later realized resulted in the victim’s death.
In stark contrast, Dubois had previously denied any involvement in throwing a rock at Boutin during her cross-examination. Following the day’s proceedings, prosecutor Landry opted not to disclose her reasoning for the prosecution’s decision to forgo cross-examination, stating, “There are reasons behind this choice that will be explained during the pleadings.”
The jury expressed a desire to question Lassonde directly, particularly regarding his lack of cooperation with the police. However, Judge Villeneuve denied their request, emphasizing that it was not the jurors’ role to conduct the trial. He reiterated the importance of adhering to the previously established instructions regarding the jury’s responsibilities.
As the jury prepares for a brief recess, Judge Villeneuve is set to draft instructions for their deliberations with input from both the Crown and the defense. The jurors are scheduled to reconvene on January 17, where they will hear the closing arguments from both sides the following day.