A 17-year-old teenager accused of the murder of Jimmy Méthot last September in Montreal will not be held until his trial. This is what Judge Robert Hamel determined in front of many relatives of the victim and the accused on Tuesday in the Montreal Youth Chamber.
This teenager, who we cannot identify under the law, faces serious charges: first degree murder and contempt of a corpse. Jimmy Méthot was found dead in a Lachine garage at the beginning of September. A 35-year-old woman is also accused in this case.
A publication ban prohibits us from reporting the facts presented during the youth’s release investigation, as well as the reasons for the judge’s decision.
The teenager was placed in the care of a “trustworthy” person under section 31 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This provision makes it possible to avoid placing a minor in custody during legal proceedings.
This decision provoked the fury of a member of the audience on Tuesday afternoon. The man stood up blaspheming, then left, slamming the door to the courtroom violently. A woman was also crying while the judgment was being read.
In the box of the accused, the boy remained stoic during the hearing.
Me Alexandra Tremblay and Me Simon Robin represent the prosecution. The file returns next January.