Murder of a Moroccan national in Stoneham in 2022: diametrically opposed positions on the sentence to be imposed on Éric Guénette

The Crown and the defence suggested on Wednesday that sentences at opposite ends of the spectrum be imposed on Éric Guénette, found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the murder of a Moroccan national in Stoneham in August 2022.

• Also read: Moroccan national killed in Stoneham: Éric Guénette guilty of involuntary manslaughter

• Also read: Fatal theft of a kilo of coke in Stoneham: he admits to having coldly shot his victim with 6 bullets

The prosecution is seeking a 15-year prison sentence for the man who served as driver on the day of the murder and was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury last June.

In defense, M^e Louis Belliard suggested imposing a sentence of at least 5 years.

“I would maybe go up to 8 years so that it hurts a little,” the lawyer suggested to Judge Louis Dionne in his short argument. “After that, we will put him under surveillance so that he gets back on the right path. […] He’s not a complete crook, he’s someone who can be redeemed.”

These suggestions clearly show the breadth of sentencing ranges associated with a conviction for involuntary manslaughter, which carries a life sentence but no minimum sentence, except when a firearm is involved.

Different analyses

The defense insisted again Wednesday that Guénette was not the one holding the gun and that he had no idea that his accomplice, Keven Prévost-Bouchard, was preparing to kill Achraf Thimoumi.

The duo were supposed to meet the 20-year-old for a drug deal and planned to steal the shipment. The young man’s body was found riddled with six bullets in his car.

“For my client, it was a robbery. He didn’t see any death in it,” Mr.^e Belliard.

However, his opponent at the Crown sees things differently. It was Guénette who drove to the meeting, seeing his passenger load the firearm before his eyes. Then, it was he who set an ambush for the victim by taking him to an isolated location rather than the initial meeting point.

“Éric Guénette did not end up here by accident. […] At every stage, it was Guénette’s participation that facilitated and brought to fruition the implementation of the plan to kill the victim,” argued Mr.^e Fabien Villemaire, speaking of the 36-year-old man’s case as one of involuntary manslaughter which is more of a “quasi-murder”.

Keven Prévost-Bouchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 17 years.

“Extreme cruelty”

Achraf Thimoumi’s sister wanted to address the court on Wednesday, as she had done in the Prévost-Bouchard case.

Via videoconference from Morocco, the woman described the two men’s actions as barbaric and extremely cruel.

“Why so much anger, so much hatred towards a young man who meant them no harm?” asked Oumayma Thimoumi, in tears. “By killing him, these two individuals whom I call murderers have caused a deep wound deep within us all, killing with it our joy of living.”

Judge Louis Dionne took the case under advisement, reminding the parties that firearm crimes are “a scourge in these times.” The magistrate will render his decision on the sentence to be imposed on Éric Guénette on October 8.