Fatal Laval daycare bus crash: preparations continue for next year’s trial

Pierre Ny St-Amand, the driver of a Société de transport de Laval (STL) bus that crashed into a Laval daycare on Feb. 8, 2023, was back before the Quebec Superior Court on Tuesday, as part of the discussions surrounding preparation for his trial next spring.

Only the Crown prosecutor in the case, Karine Dalphond, was present in court. The accused, his lawyers and Judge Lyne Décarie appeared by videoconference.

Dressed in a red turtleneck, Ny St-Amand, who was at the Philippe-Pinel Institute where he has been detained since the tragedy, remained calm, listening attentively to the discussions, and only intervened once, responding in the affirmative to Judge Décarie who asked him if he heard correctly at the opening of the session.

It was Ny St-Amand’s lawyer, Véronique Talbot, who addressed the court to share certain management elements and her intentions regarding the testimony she wishes to have heard. A publication ban prohibits sharing details of those discussions.

Ny St-Amand faces nine charges, including two of first-degree murder and others of attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Two children aged five and four, whose identities cannot be revealed, lost their lives. Six other children were injured.

Five weeks have been scheduled for the trial, which is scheduled to take place from April 7 to May 9, 2025.

Ny St-Amand was summoned to trial on March 28 by Judge François Landry following his preliminary investigation.

The parties will return to court on July 30 to continue discussions surrounding the management of the trial.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews