Clifford Domerchant-Barosy had no intention of hurting anyone the day of the triple murder in Rivière-des-Prairies three years ago. In fact, he was more afraid of getting shot after making a drug deal. This is why he drew his weapon during the shooting, pleaded the young man accused of three homicides.
Posted at 1:25 a.m.
Updated at 8:00 a.m.
This version of the facts was delivered to the jury by the accused himself, who testified Thursday morning at the Montreal courthouse.
“I did not intend to hurt or kill anyone at that time,” repeated the witness, Clifford Domerchant-Barosy, nicknamed C-Money. The latter, Jonas Castor and Stevenson Choute are accused of having killed Jerry Willer Jean-Baptiste, Jefferson Syla and Molière Dantes in a shooting that occurred in Rivière-des-Prairies three years ago.
At the time of the events, Mr. Domerisant-Barosy was selling cannabis, an illicit activity which earned him around $2,000 per week, according to him. His long-time friend, Jonas Castor, contacted him about potential clients in Rivière-des-Prairies. Marlon Francisco Villa-Guzman served as Clifford Domerchant-Barosy’s driver that day.
The witness said Thursday in the courtroom that he did not know the identity of these new clients.
They therefore join Mr. Castor and the two strangers on the 71e Avenue, near Boulevard Perras, according to the witness.
During the transaction, both customers ask “if it is down of [disposé à] come and scare a person.”
He accepts without asking too many questions, he admitted to the jury. “I had just made $500 in one sale, both looked younger, it wasn’t far off. I told myself that they could become good customers,” he explained to the jury.
They set off on this enigmatic mission, with the agreement of Mr. Villa-Guzman. The latter affirms that he is up for it, according to Mr. Domerchant-Barosy. As he counts his money, he hears a burst of gunshots. His reflex is therefore to shoot.
“I thought we were getting shot,” he recalled Thursday.
It was really spontaneous. I just decided to shoot. I pulled towards the front door, made sure no one was there. I made sure I didn’t hurt anyone.
Clifford Domerchant-Barosy, accused of triple murder
He was sometimes armed because a past drug deal had gone bad, he justified. “That day I went out with the gun, but if it had been customers I was used to seeing, I wouldn’t have done it. »
His story was very different from that of Marlon Francisco Villa-Guzman, his driver that day. The latter, an informer, has already pleaded guilty in this case to charges of manslaughter, receiving 10 years in prison. He is now cooperating with authorities and testified at the trial a few weeks ago.
Read “Triple murder in Rivière-des-Prairies: the informer knew nothing about the sinister plan”
Conversations about the shooting
The Crown last week presented conversations taken from five cellphones seized by police during the investigation into the triple murder. According to the prosecution’s theory, these devices belong to the defendants and some take part in the exchanges.
Several conversations on Snapchat, Instagram and by text messages were examined in the courtroom. The suspects, according to the Crown’s evidence, shared the video of the triple murder in these exchanges. Some of the suspects also exchanged a newspaper article which talks, among other things, about this shooting which cost the lives of three men and left two injured.
The defense in this trial presided over by Judge Alexandre Boucher must continue on Monday.
Me Claude Berlinguette-Auger et 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.
