Man accused of stabbing Longueuil court interpreter says he didn’t know the victim
Posted January 11, 2024 12:42 pm.
Last Updated January 11, 2024 2:16 pm.
The man accused of stabbing a court interpreter at the Longueuil courthouse earlier this week, was back in court on Thursday.
He said he didn’t know the victim and all signs point to this being a random attack.
The suspect, 44-year-old Alexandre Garcés, has been forbidden by the court to contact Hai Thach.
The 68-year-old victim remains in critical condition in hospital since the event on Tuesday.
Garcés was charged on Wednesday with attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and carrying a weapon for dangerous purposes.
He is said to be known to authorities.
On Tuesday – a call came into police just before 12 p.m. about an armed attack – the victim sustained serious neck injuries.
Thach then took refuge in a bathroom.
The victim had been assigned to a criminal case and was in a cubicle when they were attacked.
According to initial findings, the suspect was not supposed to be at the courthouse at the time of the incident, either as an accused or as a witness.
Garcés, who did not have a lawyer for his first court appearance on Wednesday, notably because the South Shore legal aid lawyers refused to represent him – citing a conflict of interest – now found representation.
Anne-Sophie Dagenais, a Montreal lawyer, is now handling his defense.
