Former PQ MP Harold LeBel, convicted of sexual assault on November 23, has decided not to appeal the judgment.
“We are disappointed with the verdict. However, Judge Francœur conducted this trial in an irreproachable manner. Therefore, we have no argument allowing us to be able to appeal, ”said his lawyer, Maxime Roy, in a short statement.
Both parties will return to the Rimouski courthouse on January 16. They indicated that they wanted to present a common sentencing suggestion.
The jury returned its verdict after two days of deliberation. The 12 jurors – 9 women and 3 men – came to the unanimous conclusion that the man had assaulted the complainant beyond a reasonable doubt in October 2017.
Recall that the complainant recounted having lived an “endless night” in the Rimouski apartment of the ex-politician, some 30 years her senior.
She slept with a colleague at Mr. LeBel’s on a business trip. The evening was going off without a hitch and her friend had gone to bed in a bedroom when the man suddenly and without warning attempted to kiss the victim.
The young woman, whose identity is still protected by a court order, explained to the court that he then undid her bra, then spent the night touching her while she lay motionless, unable to sleep.
The 60-year-old ex-politician proclaimed his innocence. He instead told the court that their kiss was consensual. According to him, he simply lay down in the same bed as the complainant, then woke up with his arms on her randomly from sleep. The jury didn’t believe him.