Having expressed “remorse that appears sincere” and now recognizing his responsibility, Harold LeBel can be released from prison. The former member of the Parti Québécois will have spent less than two months there, after having received a sentence of eight months in prison for a sexual assault committed in 2017.
The 60-year-old man received his sentence on January 26. He had been convicted after a trial in which his victim, a former co-worker, had testified.
On Tuesday, “despite the significant seriousness of the alleged acts”, the Commission des libérations conditionnelles du Québec accepted his request for “exit preparatory to parole”, which can be requested by an inmate who has served at least one sixth of his sentence. .
In its decision, the Commission reproached him for having committed a sexual assault “for the sole purpose of satisfying his personal needs”, without any consideration for his victim, who did not express consent to the actions taken.
The victim, whose identity is protected by a court order, had recounted at trial the unwanted approaches that the former PQ member had subjected to him. He kissed her without warning, undid her bra and tried to force open the bathroom door where she had locked herself. Then, after lying down on a Murphy bed, she received an unsolicited visit from Mr. LeBel, who subjected her to touching her buttocks and anus.
Harold LeBel had denied these accusations en bloc: “I’ve never done that in my life,” he repeated, while admitting that he and his alleged victim had kissed that evening.
On Tuesday, the two members who signed the decision, however, noted that he now takes responsibility for his behavior, and that he shows empathy towards the victim. Mr. Lebel explained that he pleaded not guilty because it was the strategy recommended by his lawyer.
“You express remorse that appears sincere towards the victim. You are amazed to see that you were able to do what you did, ”it is written.
Harold LeBel says he realized during the trial, hearing the testimony of the victim, that he had had an erroneous perception of the facts that evening. He now claims to fully believe the victim’s version.
“In detention, you showed not only repentance, but also, openness to the recommendations of the interveners as to the personal investments that you will have to make in order to better understand the reasons underlying the passage to the act. This deepening is important in order to prevent recurrence. »
Before deciding, the Commission took note of a report from the Correctional Services which concludes that the risk of recidivism of the ex-politician is “very low. The man has no criminal record.
Upon his release, he will go to live in a halfway house and must continue the therapy started in detention. His return to the community will be “gradual and supervised”, with a long list of conditions to be respected. If he defaults, he can be immediately returned to a detention facility.