At the age of 94, the founder of Villa Ignatia, Ildebert Huard, was convicted of five counts of sexual assault at the Quebec City courthouse on Wednesday.
• Read also: Trial of Dr Ildebert Huard: an alleged victim tried to monetize his complaint to the police
Several women who attended his establishment in Lac-Saint-Charles accused him of touching, closeness or inappropriate comments with a sexual connotation, even when they were in a state of vulnerability.
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In total, Ildebert Huard was the subject of eight charges of sexual assault for facts dating back to 2017 and 2019, often when they were alone with him in his office at the therapy house, which helps people suffering from addictions.
Considering his testimony not very credible, Judge Mario Tremblay found the old man guilty on five counts and acquitted him on two others.
Dominique Lelievre
Ildebert Huard, seen here from behind, before the pronouncement of the judgment Wednesday at the courthouse of Quuébec.
Evocative video
Finally, he decreed a stay of proceedings on the remaining accusation, coming from a complainant who admitted having tried to monetize her silence with the accused.
Judge Tremblay explained his decision by the fact that he wanted to “preserve the integrity of justice”, since the woman had lied about it, under oath.
However, a video from his mobile phone where the man was seen placing his hand “very high” on his thigh was nevertheless considered by the court since it is a “convincing illustration” of the behavior alleged against Huard. , explained the magistrate.
The latter explained that the former doctor seemed to him “vindictive” during his testimony and “disrespectful” of certain prosecution witnesses for whom he had “reductive and sometimes hurtful terms”.
“This tinted in the eyes of the court the perception that he is animated by the intention of telling the truth,” said Judge Tremblay while saluting “the determination and courage” of those who denounced him.
“Sealing Friendship”
For his part, Ildebert Huard admitted that he happened to touch his patients on the thighs, knees or back, but said that it was “a way for him to seal the friendship” and that there was no had no bad intentions, related the judge. He totally denied the allegations against him.
The defense invoked its limitations such as its small size or its weak eyesight to support the accidental nature of certain gestures in addition to attacking the reliability of the plaintiffs.
In 2019, Ildebert Huard continued to perform interventions although he was no longer a doctor and he is not a therapist.
Dressed in a white shirt and a blue coat, he listened attentively to the reading of the judgment which lasted more than two hours, occasionally displaying a disapproving or annoyed expression.
Suffering from hearing loss, he used a voice amplification system to follow the audience.
Sentencing submissions will take place on September 18 in his case.