A key witness giving an incriminating account at the trial of three accused of a triple murder nearly broke down during questioning before the jury. Marlon Villa Guzman, however, continued to lift the veil on the course of the shooting in which he participated, his reasons for denouncing his alleged accomplices and the threats they allegedly received from a co-defendant.
Published at 12:39 p.m.
“I am no longer capable of all this, your honor. Your testimony… I am no longer capable…”, admitted Mr. Villa-Guzman in the presence of the jury. Judge Alexandre Boucher quickly called him to order.
The witness’s questioning began Wednesday continued Thursday and Friday in the trial of Clifford Domerchant-Barosy, Stevenson Choute and Jonas Castor, accused of killing three men and wounding two others by shooting from two vehicles.
Marlon Francisco Villa Guzman is an important witness in this case. He identified a suspect in photos in questioning with police during his arrest in October 2021. In the courtroom, he identified Clifford Domerchant-Barosy on video.
Remember that the witness participated in this triple homicide: he was the driver of the Pontiac Grand Prix at the time of the events. That day, he followed a Mazda car where the other suspects were sitting, he claims. Mr. Villa Guzman pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter, receiving 10 years in the penitentiary. The accused face life in prison.
According to the informer, Clifford Domerchant-Barosy – his long-time friend – asked him to drive him to Rivière-des-Prairies without detailing the sinister plan. The passenger allegedly fired five shots while he was driving, the witness claims.
“The gun remained in the glove compartment. I didn’t see her again after that,” the 28-year-old recalled.
Two other men fired shots from the Mazda where Jonas Castor, Stevenson Choute and another man were located, he alleges.
He then joined his three friends in accommodation in Montreal North. The mysterious passenger of one of the cars involved was present. Mr. Villa Guzman did not identify him during the interrogation.
However, he revealed multiple details about the accused: the three were friends of Jesse Dave Chatelier, a man known as G-Baby. Clifford Domerchant-Barosy and Stevenson Choute are nicknamed C-Money and Lil’Skurr, according to Marlon Francisco Villa Guzman.
Threats during his transport to court
Mr. Villa Guzman goes by bus from Bordeaux prison to the courthouse in July 2023. He is then detained in this triple murder case. What should have been a simple legal step made things worse: the informer found himself with his co-defendants in the waiting room and during a long bus ride.
According to his version of the facts, Mr. Domerchant-Barosy was shouting his name. He asked him if his wife and child were well, he said.
“He told me that all I had to do was lie to the judge and that we were all going to get through this,” the witness explained.
This incident provokes anger and rage. Mr. Villa Guzman expected an apology, but he was intimidated, he said. “I took it personal. I got angry, because I told myself that everyone was going to be okay except me. »
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The fact that he was expecting a child at the time of the murders pushed him to denounce his alleged accomplices, he told the jury. “It wasn’t vehicle theft that happened. I wasn’t going to risk my life for something I never wanted to do. […] We’re talking about life in prison. »
Mr. Villa Guzman’s voice was almost inaudible at certain points during his testimony, despite the use of a microphone to facilitate his task. He sometimes mumbled his answers to the point where Judge Boucher had to ask him to express himself more clearly. His sentences were punctuated with long pauses and deep sighs.
The collaborating witness never turned his gaze towards the dock, where the three men with whom he grew up were located. “It’s very difficult [de le regarder]. I would have liked that that day, he would listen to me and neither of us would be here,” he said about Clifford Domerchant-Barosy.
The cross-examination will begin on Monday.
Me Claude Berlinguette-Auger and Me Louis Bouthillier represents the public prosecutor.
Me Christian Gauthier et Me Mélina Le Blanc defends Stevenson Choute, Me Marc Labelle and Me Claudia Doyle defends Clifford Domerchant-Barosy and Me Andrée-Anne Blais, Me Réginald Victorin and Me Patrick Davis defends Jonas Castor.
