The Superior Court of Quebec has rejected the allegations of sexual assault brought against the mayor of Anjou, Luis Miranda, by a former volunteer of his party.
In a recent judgment, Judge Gregory Moore concluded that Sandra Boursiquot failed to prove that Luis Miranda had assaulted her. “Mr. Miranda’s testimony is reliable, but that of M.me Boursiquot,” wrote the judge.
In the fall of 2018, Sandra Boursiquot publicly accused the mayor of Anjou of sexual assault. After sending denouncing emails to organizations in the Montreal borough, the former volunteer appeared at several meetings of the borough council and the municipal council to publicly reiterate her accusations.
In 2019, Luis Miranda went to court so that Sandra Boursiquot would stop making comments that he considered defamatory against him. He also claimed $75,000 for damages caused to his reputation. In response, Sandra Boursiquot requested that the elected official be ordered to pay her an amount of $750,000 for the attacks she claimed to have suffered.
During the trial held last September, Luis Miranda admitted to having frequented Mme Boursiquot, but maintained that their relations were consensual. “He testifies in an open and sincere manner, even if he is embarrassed to speak in public about his intimate life,” underlines the judge who nevertheless notes a lack of clarity in Mr. Miranda’s explanations concerning the start of this relationship .
On the other hand, the judge questions the reliability of the account given by Mme Boursiquot. The former volunteer claimed to have feared Mr. Miranda so much that she had moved to the other end of Anjou. “However, the map of Anjou reveals that it is a move of only a few blocks. It must be concluded that Mme Boursiquot is exaggerating or that she did not move to escape Mr. Miranda,” notes the judge. He also adds that during a subsequent move, it will be even closer to Mr. Miranda’s residence and the city hall where he works.
Sandra Boursiquot also alleged that the mayor exercised coercive control over her and used the municipal apparatus against her. She notably mentioned a ticket issued by district inspectors concerning an unstored trash can and the permit refused by the district for a subdivision.
The judge concludes that M’s accusationsme Boursiquot’s claims that Mr. Miranda is a “predator, abuser, aggressive racist and corrupt politician” are not supported by any evidence. He thus rejects his $750,000 lawsuit.
If the court recognizes that Mme Boursiquot propagated “false allegations with the aim of harming Mr. Miranda’s political career”, he did not acquiesce in the request for a permanent injunction filed by the elected official, an action which would have had the effect of limiting the freedom of expression of Mme Boursiquot. “The words of Mr.me Boursiquot could have affected Mr. Miranda’s reputation if citizens had believed them. Yet there is nothing in the evidence to suggest that this is the case,” writes Judge Moore.
The judge also rejects the request for damages filed by Mr. Miranda, finding that his re-election in 2021 demonstrates that despite the allegations against him, his reputation is intact. Luis Miranda also obtained more than 70% of the votes in 2021, his best career performance.
Luis Miranda did not call back The duty. For her part, M’s lawyerme Boursiquot, Me Maryse Lapointe, indicated that her client was considering appealing the judgment.