An unexpected turnaround occurred Thursday afternoon in the case of Lisette Hautcoeur, originally accused of the unpremeditated murder of Richard Allard: the Gaspésienne was declared guilty of involuntary homicide, just four days before the opening of a long trial which was to take place before a jury.
Lisette Hautcoeur, 60, appeared virtually at the Percé courthouse at the Orsainville detention center, where she is being held. Following a joint submission filed by the Crown and defence, she admitted to involuntary manslaughter on July 16, 2022.
Questioned by Superior Court Judge Guy de Blois, who presided over the hearings, Lisette Hautcoeur denied having any memory of the events. She nevertheless clarified to be tired of it all
referring to legal proceedings filed against her in 2022.
I don’t want to go to trial.
One of the Gaspésienne’s lawyers indicated to the Court that the evidence in the file would not be contested and that no defense would be presented. We admit that the prosecutor [aux poursuites criminelles et pénales] would unload his burden, that’s very clear
Véronique Talbot told the judge.
Judge Guy de Blois therefore declared Lisette Hautcoeur guilty of manslaughter. Emotional, Lisette Hautcoeur also stifled a sob at this precise moment.
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The proceedings take place at the Percé courthouse. (Archive photo)
-Photo : - / Roxanne Langlois
Richard Allard, 64, was found unresponsive by a neighbor on the floor of his home on Monseigneur Ross Street East, in Chandler. He had been wounded 11 times and was lying in a large quantity of blood. According to the assessments that were carried out, several of his wounds suggested that he had tried to defend himself.
DNA evidence on file
Analyzes carried out after the discovery of the body of Richard Allard made it possible to detect blood belonging to Lisette Hautcoeur at the crime scene as well as on the sweater worn by the victim.
The murder weapon, on which the genetic profile of the sixty-year-old was found, was seized the day after the arrest of the accused, on August 12, 2022. The bladed weapon was recovered at the home of the sister of Lisette Hautcoeur, who had entrusted it to her after the events.
No evidence linked to the death of Mr. Allard had also been found at the home of Lisette Hautcoeur, who claims to have gone to bed in the afternoon on July 16, 2022 only to wake up to the sound of the police siren. , upon their arrival.
Observations on the sentence in Lisette Hautcoeur’s case will take place Monday, from 10:30 a.m., still at the Percé courthouse. The two parties intend to present a joint proposal for 15 years. However, it is the Blois judge who will decide on the question.
At the request of the magistrate, the offender will be present in person during these hearings. The Blois judge also indicated, Thursday afternoon, that Lisette Hautcoeur would speak there.
