The jury found Marco Rodrigue guilty of attempted murder of police officer Catherine Giroux at the end of a day of deliberations on Thursday. The 57-year-old man shot the SQ officer through the windshield of his patrol car in August 2021, on Highway 73.
• Also read: The intention to kill at the heart of the debate as the verdict approaches in the trial of the man accused of shooting an SQ police officer
• Also read: He allegedly shot the policewoman because he was “disgusted to be robbed” by the government
After nearly four weeks of trial, the jurors came to the conclusion that Rodrigue did indeed intend to kill Officer Giroux when he fired two projectiles in the direction of her patrol car.
After beginning its deliberations Thursday morning, the jury notified the parties that it was ready to render its verdict late in the afternoon.
“Guilty,” pronounced juror number 11 when the judge asked her the decision she and her colleagues had reached.
Evidence filed in court
“Disgusted” to be robbed
Marco Rodrigue fired at the SQ patrol car on August 18, 2021 after being intercepted for speeding.
In his video interrogation, the man told investigators that he was “disgusted to be robbed by the government.” He had had problems with the authorities in previous years, notably when game wardens seized an original from him in the hunting camp where he had lived as a hermit for five years. This seizure had deprived him of food for the winter and he had to be evacuated by helicopter.
“It pissed me off to get hit again,” explained Rodrigue, who seems to have feared having his vehicle seized, which was not registered. “I wouldn’t have done the same thing if you hadn’t tried to steal from me.”
The photos submitted as proof of the trajectory of the projectile which pierced the windshield of the patrol car allowed us to understand the extent of the luck that Catherine Giroux nevertheless had that day. If the policewoman had not leaned to her left, the projectile that ultimately passed through her headrest could very well have been fatal.
Evidence filed in court
During discussions outside the jury, Crown prosecutor Annik Harbor described Marco Rodrigue as an “unlucky murderer”.
Intent to kill
The jury therefore agreed with the arguments of the crown, which argued that Marco Rodrigue had the intention of killing the policewoman by firing two bullets with two 308 caliber rifles that day.
In defense, Mr. Samuel Cozak argued that his client had only wanted to serve a warning to the police officer, without worrying about hurting her.
It was on this intention that the outcome of the trial depended. During their deliberations which lasted a little less than seven hours, the 12 judges of facts also asked Judge Louis Dionne for clarification on the definition of specific intention. They also re-listened to the entire video interrogation of Marco Rodrigue.
Marco Rodrigue now faces a life sentence, with the minimum sentence for the crime of attempted murder with a firearm being four years. He was also found guilty of possessing weapons for a dangerous purpose and occupying a vehicle containing firearms. Observations on the sentence to be imposed on the offender will be heard on November 13.
