Trial of Marc-André Grenon | The jury is sequestered

Did Marc-André Grenon intend to kill Guylaine Potvin in her apartment in Jonquière, on April 28, 2000, or to cause her injuries that he knew were potentially fatal? This is, among other things, what the jury, officially sequestered on Monday, will have to decide at the end of five weeks of trial.

Its 14 members, two of whom will eventually be excluded, began receiving their instructions Monday from Superior Court judge François Huot, at the Chicoutimi courthouse.

“Your only task is to assess whether Marc-André Grenon is guilty or not of the charges brought against him,” he recalled from the outset.

In many details, the magistrate reminded them at length of the ins and outs of the case and the story of each witness.

Then, he gave them a careful reading of the facts that must be gathered for them to arrive at the different verdicts that they have before them, starting with first degree murder as pleaded by the prosecution.

Many choices

As Marc-André Grenon’s lawyer has already admitted that the latter had used force and a belt to control Guylaine Potvin, the jury’s “work” will begin when determining the intention of the accused, the accused explained to them. Judge Huot.

“ [La Couronne] must prove to you that Marc-André Grenon intended to kill Guylaine or cause her injuries that he knew were serious and could cause death and that he persisted in this risk,” he summarized. .

Another “path” to arrive at the verdict of first degree murder would be for the jury to determine that Marc-André Grenon sexually assaulted Guylaine Potvin before she died, which would ensure that it would be a “classified” murder.

The magistrate also opened the door to an option which was not pleaded by the parties, namely the verdict of “culpable homicide”.

Finally, if the jury cannot agree on one of these options, it will then be able to find Marc-André Grenon guilty of second degree murder, which is what the defense wants.

The tedious description of the decision tree placed before the jury was interrupted at the end of the day and will resume Tuesday morning, which did not prevent the magistrate from ordering the sequestration of the jury.

Strangled in her bed

Guylaine Potvin was found dead in the apartment she rented with two roommates in Jonquière, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, on April 28, 2000. Her body showed numerous signs of violence and her room was upside down.

An autopsy concluded that she was killed by strangulation.

Samples taken from the scene and from objects found there, including a belt and a box of condoms, will establish the presence of a male individual on the scene.

But the DNA profile of this individual cannot be linked to anyone for more than 20 years. Until the development of an innovative genetic analysis technique by the Laboratory of Judicial Sciences and Legal Medicine, in 2022.

That summer, Sûreté du Québec investigators targeted Marc-André Grenon before arresting him the following fall.

After five weeks of trial, the latter finally admitted to having killed Guylaine Potvin on the night of April 27 to 28, 2000, but continues to plead not guilty to the other charge against him, that of sexual assault.

For the prosecution, Marc-André Grenon had planned to sexually assault and kill Guylaine Potvin before even entering her apartment, which means that the man should be found guilty of first degree murder.