Jimmy Méthot experienced real ordeal in December 2021. His executioner? Véronique Manceaux, a 38-year-old Montrealer. In one hellish night, she beat him, stabbed him and tortured him with accomplices. She even offered him a “last meal”, before leaving him to die in agony.
At least that’s the theory that the Crown presented to the jury Monday at the opening of Véronique Manceaux’s trial at the Montreal courthouse. The woman is accused of first degree murder and indignity to the corpse of Jimmy Méthot.
“The facts you are about to hear are not fiction or a television episode. They describe a real story and concern a real person,” Crown prosecutor M told jurors.e Jasmine Guillaume, who teams up with Me Marie-Claude Bourassa.
It was on the night of September 6, 2021 that Jimmy Méthot’s life changed. That evening, the 27-year-old man found himself at the home of Véronique Manceaux in the Lachine sector of Montreal. The reason for his presence was not made clear to the jury. They are not alone: Tara Kusic, Everett Roger Clayton and a 17-year-old complete the quintet.
The evening initially proceeds normally, then a conflict breaks out between the victim and the accused for an unspecified reason. Véronique Manceaux then hits the victim, according to the Crown. The teenager gets into the fight and also attacks the victim. The conflict continues in the kitchen. When Jimmy Méthot returns to the living room, he is bleeding profusely and the accused continues to hit him.
Still according to the Crown’s theory, Jimmy Méthot tries to flee the scene, but the teenager intercepts him. He is then offered his “last meal”. Desperate, Jimmy Méthot tries to flee again. “I don’t want to die like this,” he begs. It was during his flight that Véronique Manceaux ultimately stabbed him, according to the Crown.
While Jimmy Méthot is in agony, the accused makes him drink an inflammable liquid. He finally gave up the ghost. His body is transported to the garage. In the following days, Véronique Manceaux and her accomplices cleaned up the scene. The accused will eventually be arrested. It now remains for the Crown to prove this story.
Why was Jimmy Méthot murdered? The Crown prosecutor remained silent on the subject during her opening statement to the jury.
During the trial, the Crown will present to jurors text messages exchanged between the accused and his accomplices. Some accomplices of the accused will also be called to the stand.
The trial takes place before judge Daniel Royer. Me Carl Fortin Devost and Me Fanie Lacroix defends the accused.