Quebec City Halloween sword attack: Sentenced to life in prison, without possibility of parole for 25 years
Posted June 10, 2022 11:04 am.
Last Updated June 10, 2022 12:41 pm.
Carl Girouard was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years on Friday morning. He was was found guilty on all counts in May of the fatal 2020 Quebec City Halloween sword attack – two people were killed and five others injured.
Girouard was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of François Duchesne, 56, and Suzanne Clermont, 61, and five counts of attempted murder.
The defence had already said on May 20th when the verdict was reached that they would appeal the decision and before sentencing, it was officially deposed.
Quebec Superior Court Justice Richard Grenier delayed sentencing while awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada, which on May 27 struck down consecutive life sentences for people found guilty of multiple murders – which had been heard in connection to the Quebec City Mosque shooter’s case, Alexandre Bissonnette.
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Eleven jurors deliberated for five days to reach the unanimous verdicts.
Acquittal was not an option because Girouard admitted to stalking the streets of Old Quebec on October 31, 2020, to murder and maiming.
The defence argued that the accused was not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder and could not tell right from wrong.
The Crown maintained the acts were premeditated and Girouard was not suffering from any disorder.
The court proceeding lasted almost a month, 21 witnesses heard, and two delays due to COVID infections among the jury.
