Accused of attempted murder, an angry snowmobiler must defend himself

LA TUQUE – An angry snowmobiler who allegedly tried to kill the owner of a hotel in Haute-Mauricie by kicking him twenty times in the face must defend himself, a judge ruled this morning.

• Read more: Convicted of brutally assaulting a nurse at the Western de Saint-Tide festival

• Read more: At her hotel in the parent section: Sylvie Lachapelle talks about her attack

Patrice Saint-Amand tried to postpone his case once again, at the La Duc court, but Judge Simon Ricard denied his request.

The 44-year-old man, who has been accused and detained for almost three years, has already benefited from around twenty waivers and the assistance of at least four different lawyers.

“I must be represented by a lawyer for a fair trial. […] I need a competent lawyer and above all someone who listens to me,” said the accused, dropping the name of another lawyer who was not present in court.

During the next hour, the magistrate explained to St-Amand what the charges against him were, and read him some case law describing the burden of the crown.

Judge Rickard also gave him a criminal code and sheets to take notes.

“I’ve been listening to you since the beginning, and I don’t understand what you’re saying,” said Saint-Amand.

“I have a brilliant person in front of me, I’m sure of that. […] I think you are trying to play the game of someone who doesn’t understand with the time limit,” the magistrate replied.

On January 3, 2020, Patrice Saint-Amand was accused of attempting to kill Sylvie Lachapelle.

Evicted from two shelters

After being evicted from the first shelter for snowmobilers in the evening, the accused went with a friend to the Central Hotel in Pari. When the owner of the place also asked him to leave, St-Amand allegedly punched him in the face.

As witnesses at the scene tried to control the suspect, the woman collapsed to the ground.

Enraged and uncontrollable, Saint-Amand would kick the victim prominently in the face.

“Our contention is that it was to kill her,” said M Eric Theriault, for the Crown.

Saint-Amand would then take his snowmobile back to the first refuge, which he would have tried to burn down.

Pursued by patrol officers on his route, he allegedly refused to stop. The police then missed him and the suspect went into a room to spend the night. It is also said that petrol was spilled at the spot. The next morning he was surprised by the owner of the premises.

More details to come…