Posted at 8:00 a.m.
“A judgment has been rendered in France. For the truth, it was very important. But then, whether it leads to the execution of a sentence or not, it’s a bit secondary because the tragedy has taken place and no one can do anything about it. »
Joined by The Press in France, this is how Julien Geraud described the feeling that has been in him since he learned of the death, of natural causes last January, of his former Quebec spouse, Marie-Christine Bujold, who was tried and found guilty in Paris for killing their son.
In November 2002, 3-year-old Jean-Patrick Bujold-Geraud, the couple’s son – then living separated by the Atlantic Ocean – died in unclear circumstances in Montreal the day before Mr. Geraud, who arrived from France , was to see him on a supervised visitation.
The toddler was alone with his mother at the time of the tragedy and, even if the Major Crimes investigators of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) have always suspected that the child had been drowned in his bath, the coroner did not was able to accurately determine the cause of death.
Mr. Geraud then began a battle before the French courts that lasted 15 years. After having received histological slides and other elements of the autopsy from the Canadian authorities, French medical specialists concluded that the murder was by drowning and Mme Bujold was found guilty of homicide and sentenced following a trial held in her absence in the French capital in 2020.
PHOTO ARCHIVES PRESS
Julien Geraud, father of Jean-Patrick Bujold-Geraud
great bitterness
This unusual case was revealed to the public by The Press in the fall of 2019 and had a certain impact.
The Parisian lawyer of Mr. Geraud, Mand Florence Rault, had taken steps with the prosecution so that Mme Bujold either extradited to France to serve her sentence there, or that she serve it in Canada, when she learned of the death of the Quebecer.
PHOTO THOMAS COEX, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Mand Florence Rault, lawyer for Julien Geraud
Mand Rault regrets that he still has not obtained the cooperation of Canadian justice in this case.
“While Canada can be very advanced in terms of justice and very cooperative in certain areas, I must say that in this file, both in terms of the investigation and the cooperation afterwards to bring to justice the only person who could to be responsible for the death of Jean-Patrick, Canada has not lived up to its reputation.
“There is still a great bitterness. I think that the Canadian authorities could have helped the French authorities for his appearance. It is unfortunate and infinitely regrettable that this could not be done. Mr. Geraud will stay the rest of his life with questions that will remain unanswered,” says Ms.and Florence Rault, joined by The Press in Paris.
Mr. Geraud believes that for the SPVM investigators, “things were clear”, and that it is the fault of the Canadian judiciary if things did not go further, faster.
“I think in Canada, they said to themselves: ‘Well, the father is on the other side of the Atlantic, we won’t hear much about him, so we keep it simple and let it go'” , he said.
“It is unfinished justice. His death [celui de Mme Bujold] changes something, but it’s not a balm. It’s just that I’m going to stop thinking about her,” concludes Mr. Geraud.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.