A man who punched an aggressive drunkard to protect his wife during an orgy at Cinema L’Amour in 2018 was acquitted of manslaughter on Wednesday. Victorio Reno Pereira acted in self-defense by delivering the fatal blow to the victim, concluded Judge Flavia K. Longo.
With his eyes closed throughout the reading of the judgment, Victorio Reno Pereira took his face with his hands, visibly upset, when his acquittal was pronounced.
“This judgment is about a sexual adventure which turned into a tragedy and how a precious life was lost by a fateful blow”, summed up the judge Wednesday morning at the Montreal courthouse.
This unusual trial was a real dive into the world of followers of Cinema L’Amour, a Montreal institution specializing in pornographic films. In this erotic cinema, everything is allowed, except violence. Some prefer to watch, while others participate in intercourse.
On the evening of June 25, 2018, Victorio Reno Pereira and his wife participate in sexual intercourse with other consenting people. Everything goes well until Juan Hernandez Cortez arrives and insists on touching the accused’s wife. While the other men were “respectful”, Mr. Cortez behaved like “an alpha male with his sex displayed”, according to the accused.
Victorio Reno Pereira is opposed to the intruder touching his wife, but the latter continues to insist. Juan Hernandez Cortez pushes the accused, while he is in full swing with his wife. ” No fucking, no sex », Launches the accused. The intruder then grabs the woman with force.
A fight breaks out between the two men. With his back against the wall, Victorio Reno Pereira tries to pull up his pants, while the victim approaches him, his fist clenched. It was in this vulnerable position that Victorio Reno Pereira punched Juan Hernandez Cortez. Blow that proved fatal for the 59-year-old man who smashed his skull to the ground.
Victorio Reno Pereira testified that he feared his wife would be sexually assaulted by Juan Hernandez Cortez, aggressive and heavily intoxicated by alcohol. A credible version, according to Judge Longo. ” [L’accusé] was subjectively afraid of being hit by Mr. Cortez, and that if that happened, that his wife would be raped, ”she analyzed.
In the eyes of the judge, Victorio Reno Pereira did not act out of revenge, but only to protect himself and his wife. On the other hand, Mr. Cortez is “solely responsible” for this case, since he started the fight by beating the accused. He was also addicted to alcohol, with a blood alcohol level three times higher than the legal limit for driving.
Me Jasmine Guillaume and Me Jérôme Laflamme represented the public prosecutor. Defense was provided by Me Jeffrey Boro and Me Victoria Nix.