After 13 years of battles and three lawsuits against her four uncles who sexually abused her during her childhood, Guylaine Lebreux obtained a final victory by obtaining $77,000 in compensation from three of her attackers.
While the amount may seem large at first glance, it remains quite modest when Ms.me Lebreux summarizes all his efforts to achieve his ends. “We don’t do it for the money”, assures the one who had swallowed up $ 50,000 in a first trial.
Sexually assaulted multiple times by four of her uncles living in Grande-Rivière in Gaspésie when she was between 6 and 15 years old, Guylaine Lebreux finally decided to file a complaint with the police in 2009.
Civil suit
Even if the four uncles were sentenced, Guylaine Lebreux wanted to go further and pave the way for other victims. “They paid their debt to society, but the wrongs were caused to me,” she illustrates.
A $259,000 civil suit was filed against the four men, but was denied due to the 30-year statute of limitations on any civil action for sexual assault. His salvation came in June 2020 with the adoption of Law 55 amending the Civil Code which eliminated any prescription in this area.
Last week, the lady who lives in Sherbrooke went to Percé to confront, alone and without a lawyer, her uncles to ask them the killer question: “Did you sexually assault me during my childhood? »
Three of the four attackers admitted to doing so, causing the judge to say fault and causation had been established, with only the amount remaining to be determined.
The lawyer for the three attackers agreed to negotiate with Mr.me Lebreux to finally agree on an amount of $77,000. The judge in the case took under advisement the amount to be paid by the fourth attacker.
In 2018, Guylaine Lebreux published a book entitled Standing before my attackers. Thirteen years after the start of the proceedings, she sees the end of these as an “accomplishment” and a demonstration for the other victims that they can also stand up.
long battle
1er October 2009: Guylaine Lebreux files a complaint with the police
October 2010: the victim attempts to obtain the recorded confession (body pack) of his four abusive uncles by confronting them
December 2010: arrest of the four uncles
February 2011: two of the uncles plead guilty
Raymond Lebreux: sentenced to 9 months for indecent assault between 1977 and 1983
Eudore Lebreux: sentenced to 2 years for indecent assault between 1979 and 1983
March 2013 : The other two uncles are found guilty by a judge
Élodien Lebreux: 42 months for indecent assault between 1973 and 1983
Carol: 5 years for sexual assault causing bodily harm
May 2015: $258,829 civil suit against the four uncles ultimately dismissed due to 30-year statute of limitations
June 2020: Adoption of Bill 55 amending the Civil Code and ending the 30-year prescription.
April 2021: New $600,000 lawsuit against his uncles
October 2022: Settlement with three of the four attackers