Triple murder in Rivière-des-Prairies: guilty all along the line

The trio accused of causing three deaths and two injuries during a violent shooting in broad daylight in Rivière-des-Prairies have just been declared guilty across the board, so that they will now be placed under the yoke of the prison services until their death.

• Also read: Carnage in Rivière-des-Prairies: one of the attackers recounts his involvement

• Also read: Carnage in Rivière-des-Prairies: “total panic”, says a victim

• Also read: [VIDÉO] Carnage in Rivière-des-Prairies: the triple murder filmed live

“Guilty of first degree murder,” Juror 3 said nine times, for each murder and each accused.

And right after, he repeated the same words again for the attempted murder charges, as well as for the charges of discharging a firearm.

These words thus sealed the fates of Clifford Domercant-Barosy, Stevenson Choute and Jonas Castor, for their crimes which occurred on August 2, 2021.

That day, a group of individuals were celebrating a birthday in a residence on Boulevard Perras. But at 6:51 p.m., two vehicles drove past the scene. And after slowing down, the occupants began shooting towards the victims.

“Two people were shot in the head, another in the stomach. One person was hit in both thighs, another in the foot. There were cries of pain,” said M.^e Claude Berlinguette-Auger of the Crown at the opening of the trial.

In all, 26 bullet holes were found. Molière Dantes, Jafferson Sylla and Jerry Willer Jean-Baptiste died, while two people were injured.

At the start of the trial in September, the defendants pleaded not guilty. Some said they did not want to kill the victims, others said they were unaware of the deadly plan.

The Crown was, however, helped by the driver of one of the cars, who decided to turn around and collaborate with the authorities.

“I knew there was a problem with some guys, but I didn’t expect it to escalate like this,” Marlon Francisco Villa-Guzman testified.

And after nine days of deliberations, the jury reached a unanimous verdict, which means that the murderers will receive life in prison, with no possibility of release for 25 years.

The sentence will be made official in January by Judge Alexandre Boucher.