An impulsive man who pushed and caused the death of a Good Samaritan who accuses him of leaving his daughters alone in his car will be able to serve his house arrest sentence.
A sad misunderstanding led to the death of Marc St-Jean on January 3, 2020. The 47-year-old noticed that two little girls had been left alone in a moving car in the Carrefour Laplante car park in Saint-Jean. sur Richelieu. Her father, Emmanuel Joseph Semexan, had gone to do a brief errand.
Concerned, Mr. St-Jean called 911 and then opened a car door. The gesture caused a wave of panic among the children, who rushed out of the vehicle to join their father.
Believing he was dealing with someone who was about to attack his daughters, Emmanuel Joseph Semexan ran into the car park and attacked Mr St-Jean.
Two drops on the floor
He poked him three times and knocked him down twice. He then left the crime scene.
Marc St-Jean lost consciousness a few minutes later. When paramedics arrived, he was in cardiopulmonary arrest. He died shortly thereafter. The police were able to quickly locate Emmanuel Joseph Semexan.
The father immediately explained that he reacted spontaneously to his children’s crying, explaining that he was angry and acted out of anger. Almost two years later he was charged with manslaughter. He pleaded guilty this morning at the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu courthouse.
Emmanuel Joseph Semexan at the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu courthouse for his admission of guilt. PHOTO: MARTIN ALARIE / LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL MARTIN ALARIE / LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL
“It’s all because he left young children unattended in a vehicle. We understand that it was for a quick commission, but the victim wanted to do well. She was attacked by the defendant who acted spontaneously,” Crown Prosecutor Me Simon Boulianne commented in the courtroom.
What the defendant did not know, however, was that the victim was in fragile health and suffered from heart failure. The doctors had advised him that he could die at any time if he was stressed. His poor heart condition certainly contributed to his death. There was no blow during the argument.
Wrong interpretation
Nonetheless, Mr Joseph Sexeman misinterpreted the situation and mistakenly believed that the victim attacked his children when he tried to help. His violent reaction was “completely disproportionate,” Me Boulianne said.
The defendant received a sentence of two years less per day to serve at home. He will also have to do community service.
This is a joint proposal by the parties that takes into account the circumstances of the attack.
“There were kids involved, it’s always emotional for everyone and it ended badly,” commented defender Me Marc Labelle.
Marc St-Jean, 47, from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, died following an altercation that took place on Friday January 3, 2020 in the Carrefour Laplante car park. archive
The 31-year-old defendant made it a point to apologize in court to the victim’s spouse and family members.
“He was afraid for the safety of his children. He deeply regrets the measures taken and expresses his deep regret. That certainly explains his behavior but does not excuse him,” commented Supreme Court Justice France Charbonneau, endorsing the proposal.