Judge denies bail for man accused of deliberately striking homeless woman in Brossard

A man accused of a hit and run involving a homeless woman on Montreal’s South Shore last month was denied bail Monday.

The judge at the Longueuil courthouse determined Luigi Fragomele, 46, was considered a danger to the public. He will remain in police custody.

Judge Jean-Philippe Marcoux said it was a concern the accused didn’t have a motive in the alleged act, calling it “hate” against a marginalized group. He said the act seemed premeditated.

“Considering all the evidence presented, the judge effectively ruled that, even with the proposed release plan that includes a cash bail posted by his brother, to go live with his father, undergo therapy, and have his driver’s licence revoked, it was not sufficient to guarantee public safety,” Crown prosecutor Karine De Conninck said.

“Considering the gratuitousness against vulnerable people who are homeless, the fact that he did not know these people and based on the evidence we have, he relentlessly targeted them without explanation. The fact that he claims to not, as the judge mentioned, have any alcohol problems, mental health problems, drug problems that could have explained his behavior at the time, we currently have no explanation.

“From what I understand, that’s why the judge decided that he spends the rest of the proceedings in detention.”

Fragomele allegedly ran over 44-year-old Caroline Derome in Brossard on May 27, causing her leg injuries. He was charged with four offences, including assault with a weapon and hit and run.

Police have said he acted deliberately.

Defence lawyers argued the accused’s brakes on his truck were not working properly. But the judge says an evaluation of the vehicle showed the brakes were not defective.

During last week’s bail hearing, surveillance video of the incident — taken from a nearby car dealership — was played. The moment the victim was allegedly struck happened outside of the video’s frame, but the accused can be seen getting out of his vehicle after allegedly hitting Derome, then getting back inside his truck and driving away.

Witnesses have claimed the accused was repeatedly ramming into their encampment.

“Considering the unexplained nature towards people who are homeless, especially in the current social context where there is a housing crisis, a rise in homelessness, there is a phenomenon of intolerance that we are seeing towards the homeless,” De Conninck said.

Fragomele will also undergo a criminal responsibility assessment to determine his mental state at the time of the alleged crime, which would determine if he’s fit to stand trial.

–With files from Diona Macalinga