Laval daycare bus crash: second day of preliminary hearing

Tuesday was the second day of a preliminary hearing for a Quebec man accused of killing two young children by allegedly driving a city bus into a Laval daycare last year.

Pierre Ny St-Amand is facing two counts of first-degree murder and seven other charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

A transit bus crashed into the front of a daycare in Laval’s Sainte-Rose neighbourhood on Feb. 8, 2023, killing two young children, aged five and four, and injuring six others.

On Tuesday, the 52-year-old St-Amand entered the prisoner’s dock in the courtroom in Saint-Jérôme, handcuffed and wearing a grey sweatshirt. He sat expressionless with a clipboard in his hands – a request made on his behalf by his lawyers on Monday to take notes.

“Let’s not forget he’s presumed innocent until proven guilty,” said criminal defence lawyer Kwadwo Yeboah, who is not involved with the case.

“He’s allowed to take the notes to maybe go over with his lawyers after. He’s allowed to participate, he’s allowed to be there. So, to me someone who’s doing that is somebody that truly we can say he knows why here’s there.”

A publication ban on all evidence and the names of the young victims is in effect for the four-day hearing. More than half of the 13 witnesses have testified, with police officers as well as other witnesses responding to questions from the Crown and the defence.

WATCH: Preliminary hearing for accused in Laval daycare fatal bus crash

“We just don’t want too much information coming out in the media or in the public that will make it hard to find an impartial jury,” Yeboah said about the publication ban.

“It doesn’t mean people cannot assist the preliminary hearing, it’s still open to the public. Anybody can go sit down, but you cannot report what is being said. But you can report on how he is, is he alert, is he answering questions and stuff like that. But you will not be able to go into detail about what was said in court.

“It’s like a mini trial, a lot of things can come out. And the only decision that the judge has to take is on which counts is he going to be tried on. So if too much information comes out… it might taint the public opinion, and things like that, so maybe something that the judge wants to reduce.”

The preliminary hearing determines whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Quebec court Judge François Landry is presiding over the hearing, which concludes Thursday.

“The defence lawyers now will know what the evidence they have against him, that’s what most preliminary hearings – for defence attorneys, is that we get to know exactly the evidence that they have against your client even before trial,” Yeboah said.