Quebec Premier François Legault made “unacceptable” remarks that contradict basic rules of law on Friday, saying he was “happy” that the police had “got rid” of the suspect in a triple homicide that occurred this week in Montreal. and in Laval, according to his former lawyer.
“We live in a society of law, we do not live in far west here”, launched the To have to on Saturday criminal lawyer François Legault, who represented Abdulla Shaikh last March as part of an annual review conducted by the Commission for the Review of Mental Disorders of Quebec. Me Legault, who shares the same name as the Premier of Quebec, reacted strongly to the comments made by this last Friday.
The elected official was then called upon to react to the three homicides which occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Montreal boroughs of Saint-Laurent and Ahuntsic-Cartierville as well as in Laval. These three murders of civilians led the next day to the death of Mr. Shaikh, who was shot dead by the police while he was Thursday morning at the Pierre motel, located along Marcel-Laurin boulevard. A police investigation is underway to shed light on this case.
“I’m glad we got rid of that individual,” said the Prime Minister when he left a vaccination clinic on the east side of the island of Montreal, where he got his fourth dose of vaccine against COVID-19. And there, well we have to see what happened because since it was someone who was already targeted, why was he released? The Prime Minister later offered his condolences to the families of the victims of these three murders.
“It’s unacceptable,” replies Mr. Shaikh’s former lawyer, who recalls that his former client, even if he is deceased, remains innocent until proven guilty. “You can’t take advantage of the fact that a person has died by saying: ‘good, good, last stick and good riddance’. It is not said, especially from a representative of the State, ” castigates Me Legault. The “basic rules” of a law society, he reminds us, apply to everyone, “even for the worst criminals”.
Mental Health
On the Web, several Internet users have deplored the disgraceful remarks of the Prime Minister, reminding him in particular that Mr. Shaikh has a bereaved family. The man also suffered from mental health issues, including schizophrenia. He had also been declared not criminally responsible in 2018 for several offenses committed in particular at Montreal-Trudeau airport.
“Mr. Legault, this alleged murderer was mentally ill and he had parents who are surely demolished. A minimum of restraint please! “Reacted on Twitter, among others, the Liberal MP for the riding of Acadie, in Montreal, Christine St-Pierre.
” The [premier ministre] certainly has no compassion for people suffering from mental illness”, for his part wrote the Internet user Hélène St-Denis, while Patrick Déry also recalled that the suspect, who “needed help”, had “ parents, a family. “It was not necessary,” he added, referring to the words of the leader of the Coalition avenir Québec.