The conspirator and admirer of the Quebec mosque killer Pierre Dion was sentenced to 30 days in prison on Thursday for threatening to “hang” Prime Minister François Legault in a video on social networks. The judge denounced the “scourge” of online threats since the pandemic.
Posted at 11:20 a.m.
“The accused takes advantage of the dissemination of his right to speak to crack down on social networks by uttering threats, an evil that haunts the internet more and more. This type of behavior, which the pandemic has accentuated, risks becoming a scourge and affecting the foundations of our democracy, ”argued Judge Sylvain Lépine Thursday morning at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse.
“Visibly angry, surly and filled with hatred”, Pierre Dion vociferated his rage against health measures for COVID-19 in a 44-minute video posted on social networks in the fall of 2020. In this video, the conspirator 52-year-old threatens Prime Minister François Legault with death.
“You will pay one day […] I will be the first seated in front to say yé. If we have to hang him, we’ll hang him. […] It’s the same with drafts […] Worse, I’m going to spit on your grave, if you have one,” Pierre Dion fumed.
Lépine J. found no mitigating factor in favor of the accused. Among the aggravating factors, the judge noted the violence of his words, the fact that a democratically elected person was targeted, as well as his numerous criminal records, including for death threats and public incitement to hatred.
The defense suggested imposing a simple $500 fine on Pierre Dion. A suggestion rejected by the judge, who scratches the defense lawyer, Mr.e Stéphane Beaudin. In his “indictment”, Mr.e Beaudin “denounced the actions of the government and questioned the existence of the pandemic”.
Photo Alain Roberge, THE PRESS
Pierre Dion at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse.
During the trial, Mr.e Beaudin pleaded that Denis Lortie did not kill anyone in the National Assembly in 1984, even going so far as to describe him as a “political dissident”. However, Denis Lortie killed three people and injured 13 others. “An attempt to distort the truth”, according to the judge. “Sick”, the criminal lawyer was not present during the hearing.
The judge therefore followed the suggestion of the Crown prosecutor, Ms.e Julien Gaudet-Lachapelle, by imposing on Pierre Dion a sentence of 30 days in prison to be served on weekends. For three years, the conspirator will be prohibited from communicating with any elected member of the National Assembly and from making “any comment whatsoever” online about an elected Quebec official.
“Where is justice in Quebec in 2022! Pierre Dion protested. The conspirator then continued his diatribe against health measures, evoking “the truth” about the pandemic and demanding an “apology” from Quebec justice.
“We continue the destruction of Quebec by breaking my freedom of expression. wow! “complained Pierre Dion.
In June 2019, Pierre Dion was sentenced to 30 days in prison for inciting hatred towards Muslims in a video praising killer Alexandre Bissonnette. However, the sentence was found to be too severe on appeal. He was thus sentenced to 100 hours of community service and conditions to be respected.
However, Pierre Dion would have preferred to serve his prison sentence than to pay $1,500 to a charity organization working with Muslims and to do his community work. “Me, I would never work for free in society! “, boasted the conspirator. He now faces bribery charges, with a trial scheduled for next October.
The hearing ended with a disturbing statement from Pierre Dion. “Watch out for yourself on the weekend in prison, Mr. Judge,” said the criminal, leaving the courtroom.