Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand attacked his partner. A gratuitous murder of incredible violence committed by a jealous man. After beating Andréane Ouellet to death, he disguised the scene to make it appear like a possible suicide. A feminicide which will earn him life in prison.
After three days of deliberations, the jury decided on Saturday morning at the Joliette courthouse: Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand is guilty of the second degree murder of Andréane Ouellet, his partner and mother of their five children. The 32-year-old woman was killed in September 2021 in their residence in Saint-Donat.
PHOTO FILED AS PROOF
Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand
By virtue of this verdict, Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand will necessarily be sentenced to life in prison. It will remain to be determined his period of ineligibility for parole, i.e. between 10 and 25 years. The jury suggested Judge Eric Downs impose a period of 13 years. Sentencing submissions will take place at the end of October.
Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand did not testify in his defense. His initial version of the facts, presented to the jury in a 911 call, clearly did not raise reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. The killer had tried to make the paramedics and police officers believe that Andréane Ouellet had probably died by “tumbling down the stairs” during his absence. He insisted that she had taken an “overdose” and had attempted suicide in the past.
However, the evidence was particularly strong: Andréane Ouellet had suffered such significant facial injuries that only repeated and very violent impacts could have inflicted them. It was unlikely that the woman would have injured herself so seriously by falling down the stairs, according to the pathologist. Moreover, there was not even any blood, or very little, on the steps, unlike the rest of the residence.
In addition, Andréane Ouellet had no alcohol and very few medications in her blood at the time of her death, according to experts. Elements which greatly discredited the account given by Boudreau-Chartrand to the first respondents. They also said that the body was already cold, which suggested a death much earlier than the accused’s version.
Presumably, Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand was a jealous man, when he learned that his wife had cheated on him. He also blamed his partner for her alcoholism. Their relationship was failing and their relationship was “toxic”. However, there was no question of domestic violence during the trial.
In addition, Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand probably had another motive for attacking his partner, but which cannot be revealed due to a publication ban. He thus probably killed Andréane Ouellet shortly before going, without her, to a very important meeting for their relationship.
During their closing arguments, the defense argued that the evidence was not strong enough and that it was not known what really happened. Obviously, the jury concluded that the evidence was on the contrary convincing, namely that Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand had intended to kill his wife or that he had intended to cause her injury, knowing full well that They could lead to his death.
“We are very satisfied with the verdict rendered, our first thoughts are with the victim’s family. We hope that this verdict will allow them to turn the page and find a certain serenity for the future,” commented M.e Valérie Michaud, who teamed up with Me Caroline Buist for the public prosecutor.
The accused is defended by Me Catherine Ranalli and Me Elise Pinsonnault.