Found guilty in October 2023 of attempted murder after attacking a woman during a violent attack that occurred in January 2020 in Parent, St-Amand left the Rimouski Detention Center last Tuesday to be hospitalized. His condition was so serious that he said this at the La Tuque courthouse: “At the hospital, they thought I was dead.”
His condition did not inspire anything good for the observations on the sentence scheduled for Monday. This is the reason why the prosecutor, Me Éric Thériault, proposed to postpone this step, given that St-Amand was not in a position to prepare for this step, he who is again without a lawyer.
His virtual presence surprised the prosecutor. Judge Simon Ricard even added that information had reached him last week mentioning that St-Amand was unconscious in hospital.
“You seem, health-wise, and that’s a good thing, in great shape.”
— Simon Ricard, judge of the Court of Quebec
Beaten in prison?
St-Amand took advantage of his virtual presence at the La Tuque courthouse to repeat his criticisms of the justice system and to say that it is difficult for him to obtain all the documents necessary for his file and to consult them, several of these being in digital format.
He claims to be unable to contact a new lawyer, as collect calls are not offered to him at the Rimouski prison, he pleads. The individual added that the Rimouski Detention Center took advantage of his hospitalization to apparently throw away some of his documents and that representatives of the police beat him upon his return. at this prison on Sunday, in a room sheltered from surveillance cameras. He proclaimed his desire to file a police report for physical violence.
Judge Ricard showed patience with the individual during his appearance in court on Monday, inviting him to share his grievances regarding the justice system before the Court of Appeal. He agreed to postpone the holding of observations on the sentence a little further. St-Amand will then have time to contact a new lawyer and find a psychiatrist.
St-Amand wishes to call upon such an expert before expressing its position during observations on the sentence. This is because the prosecution intends to file a request to have the individual declared as a long-term offender. A psychiatric evaluation of St-Amand was carried out by an expert from the Philippe-Pinel Institute several months ago.
Sentencing observations will take place on January 15, 16 and 17.
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