Furious at his partner’s infidelity and his relapse into alcoholism, Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand attacked Andréane Ouellet, hitting her with “unbelievable” force. He then “covered up” his crime by making it appear that she had attempted suicide with medication and by tumbling down the stairs.
This is the version that Crown prosecutor M.e Valérie Michaud on Friday at the trial of Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand, accused of the second degree murder of his partner and mother of their five children, in September 2021, in Saint-Donat.
An “amalgam of findings and hypotheses,” replied the defense. No evidence can prove that Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand is at the origin of the fatal injuries of Andréane Ouellet, and that he intended to kill her, insisted the defense, minimizing the possible motives of the accused.
The Crown painted the portrait of an “exasperated” man. From a man who had a “toxic and acrimonious” relationship with his partner. From a man who, “faced with the difficulties in his relationship and the many sources of frustration, vented his anger” on Andréane Ouellet.
His partner’s infidelity “could very well have been the straw that broke the camel’s back”, underlined Mr.e Michaud. Regardless of when Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand learned of it, this infidelity was “likely to accentuate the anger that the accused had towards the victim,” according to the Crown.
The 32-year-old was virtually disfigured when she died. No area of his face had been spared. His injuries were so serious that only “multiple repeated impacts” could likely have caused them, according to the forensic pathologist, recalled M.e Michaud.
The prosecutor also insisted on a conclusion from the pathologist: Andréane Ouellet could not have caused such serious injuries to herself by falling down the stairs. Moreover, she had no skull fracture and virtually no blood was found on the stairs.
In a 911 call presented at the trial, Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand repeated that his partner had made a “ overdose » while ingesting medication and tumbling down the stairs. He told 911 that his partner was “drunk” and had fallen down the steps for the first time that morning.
Excerpt from the 911 call
However, the expert report is clear: Andréane Ouellet had no alcohol in her blood and the quantity of medication in her blood was equivalent to a normal prescribed dose, the Crown emphasized.
“What does the accused constantly insist on? [dans son appel 911] ? He insists on medication,overdose probable of the victim, the fact that she possibly attempted suicide. […] I suggest he try […] to convince everyone that the victim ingested medication, fell down the steps, all in his absence. Do you believe it? », launched Me Michaud.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM ANDRÉANNE OUELLET’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
Andréanne Ouellet, killed in her house in Saint-Donat in September 2021
In the narrative, a neighbor hears the victim and the accused screaming around midnight. Around 1:18 p.m., Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand showed up for an extremely important meeting for the couple, without his partner. An hour later, he leaves for his home, nearby. Nine minutes later, he called 911. According to his account, it was during this hour-long absence that Andréane Ouellet died.
At 911, the accused said that his partner’s body was cold and that she was vomiting blood. However, the deceased’s body is already so rigid that the paramedics are not able to intubate her. On the other hand, a body remains warm for a significant period after its death, according to an expert.
In addition, Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand’s story is “improbable and implausible”, decides the Crown.
The reasonable doubt raised by the defense
The defense invited the jury to give Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand the benefit of “reasonable doubt”. “It is impossible with the evidence you have to reconstruct what exactly happened,” insisted defense lawyer Élise Pinsonnault in her pleading.
In the eyes of the defense, vagueness persists in the evidence. How did Andréane Ouellet die? “Is this a blow?” A fall. We do not know ! », insisted Me Pinsonnault. If she concedes that the victim did not “fall alone”, we do not know how many blows the accused may have given, if he gave any.
“We’re trying to say he’s a murderer. We don’t know what exactly he did. Prove it ! “, she exclaimed. “We are not faced with someone who stabs in cold blood. These are blows to the head. There would be a lot of intent to kill on the planet if we based that on this,” argued M.e Pinsonnault, who teams up with Me Catherine Ranalli.
The jury is expected to begin deliberations next week.