A judge abruptly ended the sentencing representations of the father who killed his two children and his wife because of “slanderous and insulting” remarks made by the latter towards the victim’s mother.
“It’s over!” exclaimed Judge Eric Downs to Mohamad Al Ballouz after reading the seven-page letter that he wanted to read in the courtroom during sentencing representations Wednesday morning at the Longueuil courthouse.
The accused, who now identifies as a woman and who represents himself alone, had started reading this text a few minutes earlier by insulting the mother of Synthia Bussières, Sylvie Guertin. Friend of the Court, Mr.e Harout Haladjian had never been aware of this letter.
Recall that Al Ballouz was found guilty on Monday by a jury of the premeditated murders of his children and the unpremeditated murder of Ms. Bussières.
Justice Downs described the remarks made there as “insulting, slanderous and odious”. He thus ended the defense’s argument and will deliver his judgment on the sentence on Friday without the accused being able to finish addressing him.
Life imprisonment
Mohamad Al Ballouz has already received an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years for the murders of his children Eliam and Zac. The Crown is asking that he serve a period of between 18 and 22 years for the murder of his wife, Synthia Bussières.
The 38-year-old woman and her little ones, aged 2 and 5, were found lifeless in their condo, on the night of September 24 to 25, 2022.
In the master bedroom, the children were lying on the bed, alongside the father. The two children had no traces of violence on their bodies and were not drugged or intoxicated. We therefore do not know with certainty how they could have been killed.
Challenging trial
Synthia Bussières was killed with 23 stab wounds. She had defensive injuries on her body, suggesting that she fought for her life.
“The trial made me experience great emotions: hearing the first responders, feeling so helpless, no longer knowing what to think, because the testimonies were unimaginable,” said an emotional Sylvie Guertin in court earlier Wednesday.
Sylvie Guertin during a press scrum on the sidelines of sentencing representations, Wednesday morning at the Longueuil courthouse.
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
Judge Eric Downs was keen to emphasize how she was “extremely strong” despite “immeasurable pain”.
“You have been a victim three times and also the victim of a legal process which has been excessively difficult,” he said.
With Valérie Gonthier
