(Sorel-Tracy) Audrey-Sabrina Gratton burned to death in 2022. Because she had broken up with her boyfriend. Because she was a woman. A murder of unspeakable barbarity. By sentencing the murderer to life in prison on Thursday, the judge denounced the proliferation of femicides 35 years after the Polytechnique massacre.
Posted at 5:01 p.m.
What you need to know
- Audrey-Sabrina Gratton was burned alive by her ex in 2022 in Sorel-Tracy;
- François Chapdelaine was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of release before 18 years;
- The judge denounces the proliferation of feminicides, 35 years after Polytechnique.
“We see that feminicides – that’s what we’re talking about – are unfortunately still very present in our society. The crime you committed is despicable. Atrocious violence. Barbarian,” insisted the Superior Court judge Thursday at the Sorel-Tracy courthouse.
François Chapdelaine, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday to a reduced charge of second-degree murder. He was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 18 years, the result of a joint suggestion by lawyers.
Audrey-Sabrina Gratton, 43, began dating the accused in the summer of 2022. Their brief relationship was punctuated by breakups. François Chapdelaine is a “disorganized and paranoid” man. He uses drugs to the point of being hospitalized for psychosis.
The victim has had enough. In mid-July, she cut all contact and blocked his phone number. But François Chapdelaine does not give up. According to the facts presented to the Court, he behaved “insistently and inappropriately with the victim, which however did not give rise to fear in her”.
On the fateful day, François Chapdelaine filled cans of gasoline in his trunk. At the gas station, he asks a friend if he has to “tie up the victim while he talks to him.” His behavior is “bizarre and paranoid”. He is then visibly “intoxicated and disorganized”.
Around 11 p.m., François Chapdelaine arrives at his ex’s house. “He’s in front of my door!” Chalice! He wants to sort this out,” wrote Audrey-Sabrina Gratton to a friend. A minute later, she called a friend of the accused in a panic. “Come away!” He’s breaking down the door! He’s crazy! », she screams.
“I’m the sick one!” », shouts François Chapdelaine as he breaks down the door. “Stop!” Stop,” the victim screams. Then, the horror. François Chapdelaine douses the woman with gasoline. When he sets a fire, everything explodes. The victim’s body was found charred. The assassin survived by jumping out of the window.
PHOTO DEATH NOTICE
Audrey-Sabrina Gratton
“My mother, she didn’t deserve that”
“It’s the most atrocious way to kill someone. It’s literally torture to burn someone alive,” said Trinity Gratton-Thériault.
In a powerful testimony, the daughter of Audrey-Sabrina Gratton spat all her gall on the “less than nothing” who killed her mother.
“Before you burned my mother alive, did you think you were kidnapping someone’s mother? Have you thought about your daughters? Have you thought about whether you would like it if a man did that to your daughters? “, asserted the 23-year-old woman.
“My mother, she didn’t deserve this. She wanted to help you get through it. You have no heart, no morals. I hope your guilt will eat away at you for the rest of your life,” she continued.
Trinity Gratton-Thériault had just lost her father when her mother, her pillar, was taken from her. His world then collapsed.
“I lost my mother. The person who gave the most comforting hugs. The one for whom I was her greatest pride,” she told the Court.
Judge Blanchard praised the “courage” and “strength” of Trinity Gratton-Thériault. “Humanly, I wish you that time, gently, quietly, succeeds in putting a balm on the pain and the sorrow that you may have,” said the judge with empathy.
Two women also spoke out to denounce the “atrocious” murder of their best friend. “I will never forgive you. Sabrina, she didn’t deserve what you put her through,” one woman said.
François Chapdelaine, for his part, hid himself in silence. “It would have been appropriate to express, perhaps, a certain empathy towards the victims,” commented the judge.
“I encourage you to undergo any treatment that will help you become a better person. And to get rid of this hatred. This anger. This revenge. Which led you to do the irreparable,” concluded Judge Blanchard.
Me Marieke Sabeh et Me Geneviève Beaudin were the prosecutors on file, while Me Antoine Dubreuil defended the offender.
