A 24-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Wednesday for allegedly killing a man in unclear circumstances by repeatedly stabbing him in the street on New Year’s Eve. Ylles Bessaou’s death left a gaping hole in her mother’s life.
“They took away my son, my joy and my reason for being, why? Carrying trauma, sadness, anger and bitterness, this date will mark me forever. […] As a mother, I ask that justice be done for this abominable and unspeakable crime, because this gesture is cruel and unforgivable, ”wrote the mother of the victim in a poignant letter read in courtroom Wednesday at the Montreal courthouse. .
Charged with second degree murder, Everoy Rainaldo Gerald pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a reduced charge of manslaughter for causing the death of Ylles Bessaou, a 26-year-old Montrealer of Algerian origin, on December 31, 2019.
That night, Ylles Bessaou stood outside a Burger King restaurant on Sainte-Catherine Street West in downtown Montreal. He then crossed paths with his killer, who was accompanied by another man. While the latter was in the restaurant, the accused and the victim were chatting outside. Surveillance cameras show the whole scene.
At 2:27 a.m., Everoy Rainaldo Gerald throws a glass of Tim Hortons on the floor and walks into an alley. Ylles Bessaou follows him. He is holding his wallet and a bottle of wine. Suddenly, the victim throws the bottle in the direction of the accused, but misses the target. The origin of this conflict was not specified by the lawyers.
That’s when Everoy Rainaldo Gerald takes an object out of his sweater, stabs the victim several times and flees. According to the autopsy report, Ylles Bessaou was stabbed two to four times. The first blow required “significant” force to puncture his sternum. The knife was not found.
Everoy Rainaldo Gerald was arrested a few days later while wearing the same coat as during the events. The victim’s blood was found on his left sleeve. He was also caught for possession of heroin and crack cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Crown prosecutor M.e Pierre-Olivier Bolduc and defense lawyer Me Tom Pentefountas presented a joint suggestion of 12 years in prison which was endorsed by Judge James Brunton. A period of preventive detention of a few years is however reduced by this penalty.
Everoy Rainaldo Gerald offered his sincere apology while addressing the court.