The jury has decided: Clifford Domerchant-Barosy, Stevenson Choute and Jonas Castor are guilty of the triple murder that occurred in Rivière-des-Prairies in August 2021. The shooting which left three dead has become one of the symbols of violence between gangs street in Montreal.
Posted at 2:25 p.m.
The murderers took part in this shooting targeting a residential building during a birthday, taking the lives of Jefferson Syla, Molière Dantes and Jerry Willer Jean Baptiste on August 2, 2021.
After ten days – a very long delay – the jury found them guilty of all counts of premeditated murder after a trial which lasted two months. They are also guilty of charges of attempted murder and discharging a firearm.
The triple murder caused a shock wave at the time and preceded the creation of CENTAURE, Quebec’s strategy to combat armed violence.
Denounced by the driver
The story of Marlon Francisco Villa-Guzman, an informer, was at the heart of the trial. This man, currently detained, was the driver of one of the two vehicles involved in the attack. He pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter last May and received 10 years in prison. He testified at the start of the trial, explaining that the three accused were indeed the killers.
Snapchat cameras and conversations
The evidence was also based on a careful reconstruction of the suspects’ journey via surveillance cameras. Marlon Francisco Villa Guzman and Clifford Domerchant-Barosy are clearly visible on cameras before and after the shooting.
But what about Jonas Castor and Stevenson Choute? It was above all the testimony of an informer, Marlon Francisco Villa Guzman, who incriminated them. And conversations between the accused collected by the authorities.
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.
Two gangs, one revenge
A decision by Judge Alexandre Boucher made references to street gangs inadmissible as evidence. The triple murder in Rivière-des-Prairies nevertheless remains a symbolic event of armed violence in Montreal and conflicts between criminal gangs.
The jury therefore never knew that Stevenson Choute, alias Lil’Skurr, Clifford Domerchant-Barosy, alias C-Money, are linked by the police to street gangs. Stevenson Choute is, according to our sources, considered by the authorities to be a member of Pop Team, a criminal group from Montreal North.
Jefferson Syla, nicknamed Soldier, and Jerry Willer Jean-Baptiste, known as Mackazoe, were considered by police to be members of the Profit Boys, a street gang in Rivière-des-Prairies. A loaded firearm was also found on the remains of Mr. Jean-Baptiste during the analysis of the crime scene.
The Crown was therefore content to speak of the motive as revenge for a friend killed a few months earlier. This friend is Jesse Dave Chatelier, killed in February 2021.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Jesse Dave Chatelier was killed in February 2021.
The murder of this young man close to certain members of Pop Team has, according to our information, inflamed a long-standing conflict between gang members from Rivière-des-Prairies and Montréal-Nord.
A mysterious minor accused
A fourth individual, a minor at the time of the events, is involved in this case.
Marlon Francisco Villa Guzman explained that he did not know this accused and never named him. Clifford Domerchant-Barosy did not mention it in his testimony. This suspect, who cannot be named since he was a teenager at the time of the crime, is currently accused of the triple murder. He will stand trial in juvenile court.
Me Claude Berlinguette-Auger et Me Louis Bouthillier represented the public prosecutor.
Me Christian Gauthier et Me Mélina Le Blanc defended Stevenson Choute, Me Marc Labelle and Me Claudia Doyle defended Clifford Domerchant-Barosy and Me Andrée-Anne Blais, Me Réginald Victorin and Me Patrick Davis defended Jonas Castor.
