Anti-feminist blogger Jean-Claude Rochefort showed a “flagrant and unacceptable disregard” for the justice system by failing to select a jury for his trial. The worshiper of Marc Lépine has thus lost his right to be judged by his peers, the court ruled on Friday.
Posted at 11:59
The trial of Jean-Claude Rochefort for having voluntarily fomented hatred against women should therefore begin on Monday at the Montreal courthouse before a judge alone. It should be noted that it is extremely rare for an accused to thus lose his right to a trial by jury.
The 73-year-old’s anti-feminist blog is at the heart of this lawsuit. In 2019, Jean-Claude Rochefort praised the killer Marc Lépine in publications published before the commemorations of the Polytechnique mass feminicide. In his writings, he invited women to celebrate “the feast of Saint-Marc-Lépine”, then encouraged the “disciples” of Marc Lépine “to polish their rifles”. According to the accused, Marc Lépine had “restored dignity to men”.
More than two years later, his jury trial was to begin Monday morning with jury selection. More than 230 citizens had thus presented themselves at the courthouse. However, Jean-Claude Rochefort “voluntarily and intentionally chose not to appear”, concluded judge Pierre Labrie on Friday morning. “His behavior defies belief,” he added.
A Criminal Code provision removes the right to a jury from an accused who has failed to appear at trial. The defense must then demonstrate a “legitimate excuse” to justify the accused’s absence.
“Through these deliberate actions, Mr. Rochefort frustrated the administration of justice by sabotaging the jury selection process. […] The court cannot take such disregard for the administration of justice lightly,” the judge continued.
Instead of going to the courthouse at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Jean-Claude Rochefort preferred to visit the Caisse Desjardins to settle accounts. Apparently not having a penny to take a taxi, he then took the bus to go to a first bank, the only one where he claims to know his bank PIN.
With $3,000 in his pocket, the accused then went to a third banking institution to withdraw more funds. It was then 11 a.m. When he arrived at the courthouse around noon, he was arrested. Jean-Claude Rochefort’s explanations obviously did not convince the judge. “The court cannot see a simple error in judgment,” explained the judge.
In addition to having screwed up the day of 236 citizens, Jean-Claude Rochefort wasted precious judicial resources, in this period of shortage of court personnel, added the judge. “It is shocking that resources are used for nothing while courtrooms cannot function due to lack of personnel,” the judge stressed.
At the end of the judgment, the defense lawyer, Mr.e Rodolphe Bourgeois, seemed to question the impartiality of the judge for the rest of the trial. “Does the president of the court feel comfortable hearing the testimony of the accused? “, advanced M.e Bourgeois. “I don’t see a problem, the court is able to sort things out,” retorted Judge Labrie.
Me Roxane Laporte represents the public ministry.