The technician who analyzed Guylaine Potvin's room on April 28, 2000 presented the jury with the photos of the tragic scene on the third day of the trial of Marc-André Grenon, a first disturbing glimpse of the scene of the drama that unfolded there. 24 years ago and what caused some emotions in the courtroom.
• Also read: Murder of Guylaine Potvin: Her friend is scarred by the macabre discovery
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Everything in the small apartment on Rue Panet looked like normal student accommodation when police officer André Lecompte from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) entered. A school bag in the living room, clothes hanging on a drying rack in the kitchen, nothing to indicate the drama that had taken place there.
The forensic identification technician, now 74, has been retired since 2001. His career spanned 32 years, all with the SQ, including the last 14 years as a crime scene technician.
PHOTOS ROGER GAGNON / QMI AGENCE
Retired police officer André Lecompte, crime scene technician.
Despite the years, the man described with precision and keen memory the observations he made the day he was called to analyze the scene. In particular, the mess that existed in Guylaine Potvin's room and that of one of her roommates.
Belts and condoms
He particularly described the belt found near Guylaine Potvin's body. A brown belt with the buckle end damaged. The missing piece of metal was also found on the floor of the room, which was in complete disarray.
The photo was provided by the court and cropped to avoid broadcasting an image of the victim
Photo provided by the court
And a spot on the belt caught the policeman's attention.
“I thought it was blood. I said to myself that we should take a sample now,” Mr. Lecompte described.
A box containing 12 condoms was also found in Guylaine Potvin's room.
Photo provided by the court
The packaging was torn and there were still six condoms inside. That box and the condoms were confiscated by the technician and presented to the jury on Wednesday. Just like the belt.
Swollen body
Apparently, the photo album presented in the courtroom caused reactions when the victim's body was presented there. At least one person left the room and friends of Guylaine Potvin couldn't hold back their tears.
Guylaine Potvin's immediate family also decided to leave the room before the photos were presented.
Free photo
The 19-year-old young woman appears almost naked and is only wearing a T-shirt pulled up to her chest. His face appears to be swollen and reddish spots can also be seen on his neck. There is an injury on her left breast that at first glance might look like a bite. All clear signs of the violence of the attack she suffered.
In a corner, next to the bed, lie the victim's pajama bottoms and panties, bundled up. “As if taken from a movement,” said the retired police officer when questioned by public prosecutor Pierre-Alexandre Bernard.
Photo provided by the court
Marc-André Grenon remained calm as always during the broadcast of the pictures. The man is accused of murder and sexual assault on the 19-year-old woman.
“We will stay alive”
André Lecompte also said he found a note in his room that Guylaine Potvin had written for one of his roommates.
The victim wants her friend, who is away for the weekend, to use her vacation to relax.
“Danger a little bit, please. We come to the end and stay alive,” wrote Guylaine Potvin tragically, apparently unaware of the terrible fate that awaited her.
Officer Lecompte's testimony continues Wednesday afternoon.
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