The trial of a father accused of the murders of his partner Synthia Bussières and their two boys in Brossard in September 2022 opened before a jury this Monday at the Longueuil courthouse. Defendant Mohamad Al Ballouz, who now presents himself as a woman under the name Lavana Ballouz, is defending himself.
In its opening statement, the prosecution warned the jury that several witnesses will refer to him as a man, not out of disrespect or to shock, but to reflect their perception at the time of the tragedy while the The accused physically presented himself as a man.
Judge Eric Downs had also advised during jury selection that Levana Ballouz was incarcerated at the Leclerc women's detention facility.
Ballouz, who faces four charges, including three counts of murder, appeared in court wearing a shoulder-length wavy brown wig, dark red nail polish and a plum-colored suit.
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Mohamad Al Ballouz was found fit to stand trial.
Photo: Courtesy
Al Ballouz allegedly ingested windshield washer fluid
According to the prosecution's theory, on the night of September 24 to 25, 2022, the accused first, for a reason unknown to us, killed Synthia Bussières by inflicting 23 blows on her with a sharp and prickly weapon, said Me Laurence Lamoureux, prosecutor for criminal and penal prosecutions.
He tried to clean the place up. Unable to do so, with a different modus operandi, he deliberately took the lives of his two young children, Zac and Liam.
affirmed Me Lamoureux.
The accused then removed all the smoke detectors from the living unit and placed them at the foot of the bed with bloody sheets and several objects from the apartment to create a pile, the prosecutor continued.
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It was the triggering of a fire alarm that led the Longueuil Agglomeration Fire Safety Service (SSIAL) to the scene of the event. (Archive photo)
Photo: - / Stéphane Grégoire
Before or after, Al Ballouz ingested windshield washer fluid in an attempt to end his life, according to evidence that will be presented during the trial over the next six weeks. He laid the bodies of his boys on the bed and set the fire before taking his place between the two children, aged 2 and 5, according to the Crown.
A little after midnight, firefighters arrived at the condo unit of the building on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, in Brossard, to respond to a fire alarm. They discovered the woman lying on the floor of the bathroom adjoining the master bedroom, in a pool of blood.
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Synthia Bussières was the spouse of Mohamad Al Ballouz.
Photo: Maria Odorisio, friend of Synthia Bussières
They also found the two children unresponsive on a bed. They were on either side of the accused, who was unconscious. Al Ballouz was resuscitated, but the maneuvers on the children did not work.
Lavana Ballouz is charged with the unpremeditated murder of Synthia Bussières, the premeditated murders of Zack and Eliam Al Ballouz and arson.
