Jean-François Moffet, 33, smiled and sent a few kisses to his new partner in the courtroom, when he was in the detainee box. The special constable had to intervene to get them to stop looking at each other.
However, Moffet never looked at his ex, seated on the other side of the room. He admits to having beaten, denigrated and raped her during their relationship, between March 2020 and November 2021. Moffet did not apologize when judge Réna Emond allowed him to do so.
The 33-year-old man pleaded guilty to sexual assault, assault and harassment on Monday at the Quebec courthouse.
“The accused makes contemptuous remarks about her physique and role as a mother. […] Within the framework of the relationship, the accused used force on her and behaved in a threatening manner,” we can read in the summary of the facts read in court.
Moffet also used objects during oral, vaginal and anal sex without his victim’s consent. The thirty-year-old is also guilty of harassing communications about a third victim.
In addition, the accused pleads guilty to the offenses of obstructing the work of police officers and dangerous driving. These facts took place when the police wanted to arrest him, after the complaint from the third victim. The other charges against her were finally withdrawn on Monday.
During the summary of the facts, Moffet was leaning against the wall, looking disinterested. However, he responded in a strong and clear voice to the judge’s questions.
The 54-month sentence imposed takes into account the accused’s criminal record. He admitted in 2021 to having strangled and harassed a first victim, still in a marital context.
With pre-trial detention, he has approximately 35 months left to spend behind bars.
“Liberated”
Audrey Van Houtte chose to have the order protecting her identity lifted on Monday. She no longer wants to live in shame.
“I am proud to have gone all the way. I feel liberated. If I can help others to file a complaint, I will have done my part,” she emphasizes as she leaves the courtroom.
She had written a letter to express the consequences of the crime on her life. Prosecutor Me Laura Plamondon-Dufour read it before Judge Emond.
“December 2021, my nightmare ended. At least, that’s what I thought. The naive little girl in me believed that once my attacker was behind bars, life would go back to normal.”
The legal process lasted 29 long months for Audrey Van Houtte. After Monday, she will finally be able to turn the page on this difficult ordeal.
“Putting words on the actions that were taken, but above all trying to forget them, that’s not easy. It’s my attacker who is in prison, but it’s me who feels like I’m being deprived of my freedom.”
— Audrey Van Houtte
Since ending her relationship with Jean-François Moffet, the 31-year-old woman has had to live with anxiety, insomnia, a feeling of shame, fear, flashbacks and dark thoughts. She accumulated absences from work and hospital visits. Above all, Audrey had to deal with retaliation from those around her attacker.
Today, she says she remains strong for her two young boys.
“I lost my self-confidence, my ability to trust others, the feeling of being safe no matter where,” she adds.
Audrey Van Houtte can now try to rebuild her life, without visits to the courthouse or calls with a probation officer.
