A 76-year-old man who has been held for 19 years for the murder and attempted murder of two brothers addresses a jury in hopes of edging up his parole eligibility. The Crown, however, questions the real progress of the murderer Jean-Guy Lambert.
Posted at 4:59 p.m.
It is an unusual trial that opened Monday at the Montreal courthouse, that of the “last chance” of Jean-Guy Lambert, sentenced in 2006 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.
In the coming weeks, the jurors will have to determine if the septuagenarian deserves to be eligible earlier for his full parole, scheduled for October 2028. Unlike a “traditional” trial, the burden of proof rests on the offender.
“You are not there to determine whether or not Mr. Lambert is guilty of a crime,” explained Judge France Charbonneau.
At the opening of the trial, however, the jury learned little about the circumstances of this murder which occurred on May 5, 1997, except that Robert Fattouch was murdered and that his brother Elias Fattouch survived. It was only six years later, in October 2003, that Jean-Guy Lambert was arrested. A jury returned its verdict three years later.
To convince the jury, the murderer plans to testify and present several witnesses to establish “his progress” in detention, including two psychological experts and his parole officer, said Ms.e Sandra Brouillette, who teams up with Me Cynthia Chenier.
“Observe the changes which make it possible to reduce the risk of recidivism following the commission of the irreparable, on May 5, 1997”, launched to the jury Me Brouillette in his opening statement.
The lawyer also reminded the jurors that they should not decide to release Jean-Guy Lambert “in the street tomorrow morning”. The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) will have to rule before releasing the offender.
The public prosecutor opposes Jean-Guy Lambert’s request. To establish their evidence, a letter written by the surviving brother will be presented as evidence, along with letters from family members.
Crown prosecutors M.e Katerine Brabant and Me Claude Berlinguette-Auger will draw the jury’s attention to the offender’s claims.
What changes have really taken place since 2006? […] And are these changes stemming from a genuine desire by Mr. Lambert to change or improve or from something beyond his control, such as old age and illness ? Has Mr. Lambert’s thought evolved over time? Does he admit his crime? Does he recognize the harm he has caused?
Me Brabant, in his statement to the jury
The first witness in the trial, a PBC supervisor, explained that the recidivism rate for offenders sentenced to life imprisonment was 0.4% while on day parole.
The trial continues on Tuesday.