At least 10 years in prison for an octogenarian who killed his wife suffering from Alzheimer’s “out of great compassion”

Desperate and feeling abandoned by the system, an octogenarian who killed his wife suffering from Alzheimer’s will now have to serve a minimum of 10 years in penitentiary after confessing his actions in court.

“I am not a murderer. I did this out of love and great compassion, quite simply. There was no violence, no malice in my action,” testified Gilles Brassard, Thursday morning at the Laval courthouse.

The 81-year-old man had just pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, automatically receiving life in prison. He was originally accused of the premeditated murder of his partner of 53 years, Thérèse Brassard-Lévesque.

On September 30, 2023, the accused went to the Ressource de Lanaudière, a residence for elderly people with memory disorders where the 79-year-old woman had been staying for several months.

Filmed scene

Surveillance cameras placed in the victim’s room captured the entire tragic scene.

Shortly after his arrival, Brassard tried to put a rope around his neck, but the victim protested with a gesture and he removed it. It was only on his fourth attempt in 20 minutes that he finally succeeded in strangling her.

“She shouts: “Eille, ayoye!” then he goes to lie on top to control her, because she is struggling,” we mention in the agreed summary of facts read in court.

The octogenarian then swallowed the contents of around five jars of pills.

The couple was only finally found at 6 p.m. by an employee of the residence. Another worker and a resident had meanwhile entered the room, without noticing what had happened.

Gilles Brassard sat in a rocking chair, a “My last wishes” envelope and a handwritten will nearby.

The octogenarian was transported to a hospital, but his partner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pascal Brassard testifies that, when he was finally out of danger, the accused told his son: “I wanted to take away your sadness.”

Alzheimer’s disease

Her mother, Thérèse Brassard-Lévesque, had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years, and her condition had deteriorated rapidly.

“I saw my father go to the end of his strength to keep my mother with him. He didn’t want to tell me everything about what was happening at home,” he testified.

Because of the illness, the victim became increasingly physically and verbally violent with her husband.

In 2022, Thérèse Brassard-Lévesque finally had to be hospitalized, then placed in a resource adapted to her needs.

“But society did not take all possible means to take care of my mother-in-law,” mentioned Pascal Brassard’s partner, Brigitte Fournier.

According to her, the victim could go several days without being washed, wore the same clothes day and night, slept with his shoes on and had black nails.

Judge Hélène Di Salvo announced that she will endorse the common suggestion of 10 years and 6 months of incarceration before possible parole when Gilles Brassard returns to court next week.

“Your family situation affects a lot of people in Quebec,” mentioned the magistrate.

What they said:

• “I wanted to send her to a better world and leave at the same time as her. I said to myself: “So, we lived a good life. It will hurt the children, but it will pass. I missed my shot and I’m paying the price today.” — Gilles Brassard, accused
• “We underestimated the state of despair my father was in.” — Martin Brassard, son of the couple
• “He was abandoned by everyone, even more so by the government. My grandpa is a victim of the health system, which was unable to provide him with the help he needed.” — Laurie Brassard, granddaughter of the couple
• “I thought in 2017 that this was the last case of this kind, the last tragic event linked to Alzheimer’s disease. But unfortunately, it happened. It’s a tragedy for society, for the family and for the victim.” — Gilles Brassard’s lawyer, M^e Elfriede Duclervil, referring to her former client, Michel Cadotte, who had also ended the life of his partner suffering from this disease.
• “I don’t think we can make a comparison with medical assistance in dying. There are laws, it is regulated, it falls within the medical field. Here, we are talking about a spouse who has decided to end his partner’s life.” —M^e Geneviève Aumond, Crown prosecutor