Predictably, Superior Court Judge Marc David on Wednesday afternoon sentenced hitman Frédérick Silva to life in prison, without the possibility of parole for 25 years, for the murders of Alessandro Vinci, Yvon Lafond and Sébastien Beauchamp committed in Laval and Montreal in the fall of 2018.
Posted at 5:52 p.m.
The magistrate also accepted the arguments of the Prosecution and sentenced Silva to life in prison, without the possibility of parole for 10 years, for having tried to kill the mafioso Salvatore Scoppa in Terrebonne in February 2017.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, represented by Mr.and Antoine Piché and M.and Nathalie Kléber, asked that the periods of ineligibility for parole be served consecutively – added together – which would have meant that Silva could not have left the penitentiary for 85 years.
But since section 745.51 of the Criminal Code, which allows periods of parole ineligibility to be served consecutively in the case of an individual who has committed multiple murders, will soon be debated in the Supreme Court – Judgment Bissonnette, the killer of the Great Mosque of Quebec – Judge David dismissed the prosecution’s request, given the current state of the law.
Little hope of rehabilitation
Judge David pointed out that Silva, who has a lengthy criminal record, has been the subject of seven different firearms prohibition orders in the past.
He also noted several aggravating factors, including “the fact of being the main perpetrator of three first degree murders against defenseless individuals, his long run to avoid his arrest and the commission of murders during this run , knowing that he was wanted by the police”.
“As to the criterion of deterrence, the Court places little hope in the rehabilitation of the accused. This is mainly due to the fact that he kills repeatedly in circumstances that remain unexplained. Everything indicates that only his arrest put an end to his murderous activities”.
“Acting with complete impunity, as the accused did, with regard to human life must be denounced with vigor. A severe sentence, accompanied by an increase in the probationary time, serves this objective, ”wrote in particular Judge David in his decision of about twenty pages.
The prosecution can be expected to file a notice of appeal asking that the parole ineligibility periods be served consecutively once the Supreme Court has rendered its decision in the case. ‘Alexander Bissonnette.
Mand Danièle Roy, who represents Frédérick Silva, has already filed a motion for unconstitutionality granted by Judge David.
Dramatic turnaround
Frédérick Silva suddenly ended his trial in November by acknowledging that the prosecution had discharged its burden.
By admitting that the evidence against him was conclusive, without acknowledging his guilt, Silva thus retains his right to appeal certain decisions rendered by Judge Marc David before the start of his trial.
An alleged accomplice of Silva, Giovanni Presta junior, is still charged with the murder of Sébastien Beauchamp and several counts related to the firearms.
Two other individuals, Girard Anglade and Sébastien Giroux, were arrested and charged as an after-the-fact accessory last December to helping Frédérick Silva flee justice after a 2017 murder.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.