Sexual assault case: Harold Lebel tells plaintiff he had ‘no excuse’ for drinking

In response to a February 2020 email from his alleged victim, Harold Lebel said he had “no recollection” of the events, with the complainant accusing him of drinking.

• Read more: Complainant describes her hellish night: Lebel allegedly touched the victim

• Read more: Harold Lebel’s trial begins in Rimouski

The plaintiff testified Wednesday morning that she sent a lengthy email to Harold Lebel in February 2020, two years after the alleged assault in the fall of 2017.

In this letter, he described his blasphemous actions. Advances, a forced kiss, bra undone, “walking” hands going so far as to insert a finger into her butt. Describing her relationship with Harold Lebel before the events as a “priceless” friendship, she speaks of a “huge break” in the fall of 2017.

“[C’est] It’s like time has stopped, like I can’t move. Fear and incomprehension made me immobile,” the complainant wrote in the letter.

In response the next day, Harold LeBelle said he was “full of questions” and that there was an apparent confusion between him and the woman from the alleged events. It was then that he wrote, “Can’t remember any of this.”

“I remember waking up next to you wondering what I was doing there. “I wish I didn’t know it was an alcoholic evening,” wrote Rimosky’s partner at the time, adding, “I’m sorry.”

“It was not me.”

When questioned by the Crown prosecutor about the accused’s state of affairs regarding alcohol this evening, the complainant indicated that although he had had a few drinks, everything was “normal”.

“He looks like he’s had a few drinks like me. Maybe a little awkward, I guess, but I didn’t notice the difference until we had a good discussion. […] We had a discussion and nothing significant,” he said, adding that he had consumed three or four glasses of gin and tonic in the evening, just like the accused.

Fear of consequences

Her testimony continued earlier in the day, describing how she did not want to be swayed by the alleged assault, fearing she would be singled out. Incorrect A problem that preyed on a “much loved” man with an “excellent reputation”.

“I want to put it away and pretend it didn’t happen. Put it in a little box in my brain,” the complainant said, fearing to pay for possible reprimand.

“We fear for our credibility because this is a very famous personality and we fear that we will suffer the consequences,” he explained to the jury.

It is this aspect of the woman’s evidence that the Crown Prosecutor should have developed.^e Manon Gaudreault. After recounting the assault Tuesday afternoon, the victim explained to the jury this morning the path that led to her filing a complaint in the summer of 2020 about the assault, which happened two-and-a-half years ago. , in the fall of 2017.

Especially the “Me too” movement and the arrest of another popular political figure for sexual assault have raised some concerns about the woman’s own situation.

“If I don’t say anything, other people will have to go through what I had,” the woman wondered. “I started regretting that I hadn’t said anything. […] I don’t want that on my conscience. I don’t know if these things will happen again,” he added.

However, fearing the media storm that would come with whistleblowing a politician, she needed legal counsel to reassure her that a publication ban could prevent her from being identified as a sinker.

On July 24, 2020, he finally went to the post of the Sûreté du Québec to file a statement.

Back to the facts

Before asking him to explain his progress, the attorney on file questioned the alleged victim on certain aspects of his testimony the day before regarding the facts alleged against Harold Lebel.

As of Tuesday, the woman described being kissed by MP after having a few drinks in her condo with a third man who was in bed at the time. The complainant and this other person were passing through Rimouski for business reasons and stayed with Lebel, whom they considered a “good friend”.

After the defendant undid her bra and locked herself in the bathroom, the woman said the deputy insisted on her refusal to come closer. He tried to enter the bathroom where she had taken refuge.

“He knocks and he’s very determined. That’s when I was really scared because I said no and I thought it was aggressive behavior in the sense that I locked the door. […] This is where I was shaking. I don’t know what to do,” he told the jury.

Later in the room when going to bed, the woman is joined by Harold Lebel, who asks her to sleep with him, and she accepts to “take it easy”, wanting him to understand her refusal.

Sexual touching

This is where the sexual touch took place. A few minutes later, Harold LeBelle slipped an arm toward the woman and caressed her buttocks before grabbing her. He would then place his fingers on the victim’s buttocks and insert a finger into her anus.

“It wasn’t very deep, but it went in because it was painful,” the complainant repeated Wednesday morning.

Questioned by M.^e During this confusing moment, Gautreault clarified that the alleged victim was wearing “jacket” style pajamas and her underwear at the time.

“Thinking back, logically he could have access to my butt, my butt crack, my anus, I think he tied my panties down or took them off. He clearly found a way to put his hand in there,” the woman said.

These gestures continued throughout the night as the victim lay motionless on the living room couch. He also said that no words were exchanged between him and the accused.

Testimony continues Wednesday with cross-examination of alleged victims by the defense. Harold LeBelle was found not guilty of sexual assault. His jury trial is scheduled for two to three weeks.