Nearly 24 years after the murder of Guylaine Potvin, which occurred in April 2000 in Jonquière, the trial of the man whom the authorities believe responsible for the sordid crime opens Monday morning with the constitution of the jury which will have in its hands the fate of Marc- André Grenon.
The man was arrested in Granby in October 2022 following investigative work involving innovative techniques which have since remained under a publication ban.
The next six weeks will shed light on this extraordinary investigation where 322 subjects were targeted, most of which were excluded during the DNA investigation.
Photo taken from Facebook
Guylaine Potvin was sexually assaulted and killed in the middle of the night in her apartment on April 28, 2000. The young student from Cégep de Jonquière was 19 years old.
The suspect allegedly entered her home, before sexually assaulting her and strangling her to death. Her body was found by friends the next morning.
Murder of Guylaine Potvin in October 2000 in Jonquière. The police take his body out of his apartment. Roger Gagnon / THE ARCHIVES / LE JOURNAL DE QUÉBEC
Archive photo
Summary of facts
“The autopsy concluded that the death was caused by strangulation and recent genital trauma gave the death a sexual nature,” Judge Huot told the candidate jurors in his summary of the facts, specifying that a belt had notably been captured and analyzed.
The magistrate explained that DNA was taken from the scene, but no association could be made with a potential suspect at the time.
In 2022, when the Judicial Sciences Laboratory was called upon, “new specific scientific techniques” made it possible to “priority” target the Grenon surname.
The man’s DNA was able to be taken from two straws used by the suspect after police operations.
“The genetic profile of the straws is associated with that found 22 years earlier at the crime scene,” Judge Huot told the candidates.
300 people summoned
About 300 people were called for jury selection on Monday. There is a certain excitement in the Chicoutimi courthouse, the story having generated a lot of ink over the last 24 years.
Judge François Huot and lawyers from both parties have already agreed on the questions to ask the candidates during the management conferences held in preparation for the trial. Several motions were also decided during these hearings which are subject to publication ban orders.
Courtesy
The trial is scheduled to last six weeks, but the parties estimated that the whole thing could be completed a week earlier.
Marc-André Grenon was brought Monday morning to the Chicoutimi courthouse. He appeared emaciated when he arrived in the dock, recording in a weak voice his plea of not guilty at the opening of the trial.
Photos courtesy, Sûreté du Québec
Grenon is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault.
Me Pierre-Alexandre Bernard and Me François Godin represents the public prosecutor in this case. Marc-André Grenon is defended by Me Karine Poliquin and Me Vanessa Pharand.