Did Marc-André Grenon intend to kill Guylaine Potvin in her apartment in Jonquière on April 28, 2000, or to inflict injuries that he knew were potentially fatal? Among other things, the jury, which was officially sequestered on Monday, will have to decide on this at the end of the five-week trial.
Published yesterday at 6:14 p.m.
Its 14 members, two of whom will ultimately be expelled, received their instructions from Supreme Court Justice François Huot on Monday at the Chicoutimi courthouse.
“Your only task is to assess whether Marc-André Grenon is guilty or not of the allegations made against him,” he recalled from the start.
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The defendant Marc-André Grenon
In many details, the judge reminded them in detail of the details of the case and the history of each witness.
He then carefully read to them the facts that must be gathered so that they can arrive at the various verdicts before them, starting with first degree murder, as argued by the prosecution.
Many possibilities
Since Marc-André Grenon's lawyer has already admitted that he used force and a belt to control Guylaine Potvin, the jury's “work” will begin with determining the defendant's intention, the defendant, Judge Huot, explained to them .
“ [La Couronne] “I have to prove to you that Marc-André Grenon had the intention to kill Guylaine or inflict injuries on her that he knew were serious and could lead to death, and that he continued to take that risk,” he concluded .
Another “way” to reach the first-degree murder verdict would be for the jury to find that Marc-André Grenon sexually assaulted Guylaine Potvin before her death, which would ensure that it was a “secret “ Murder is about.
The judge also opened the door to an option not advocated by the parties, namely a verdict of “intentional homicide.”
Ultimately, if the jury cannot agree on one of these options, it can find Marc-André Grenon guilty of second-degree murder, which is what the defense is demanding.
The lengthy description of the decision tree presented to the jury was interrupted at the end of the day and will continue Tuesday morning, which did not prevent the judge from ordering the sequestration of the jury.
Strangled in her bed
Guylaine Potvin was found dead on April 28, 2000 in the apartment she rented with two roommates in Jonquière, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. Her body showed numerous signs of violence and her room was upside down.
An autopsy determined she was killed by strangulation.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SÛRETÉ DU QUÉBEC, VIA THE CANADIAN PRESS
Guylaine Potvin was found dead on April 28, 2000 in the apartment she rented with two roommates in Jonquière, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.
Samples from the crime scene and items found there, including a belt and a box of condoms, will confirm the presence of a male subject at the scene.
However, that person's DNA profile cannot be linked to anyone for more than 20 years. Until the development of an innovative genetic analysis technique by the Laboratory for Justice Sciences and Forensic Medicine in 2022.
That summer, Sûreté du Québec investigators targeted Marc-André Grenon before arresting him the following fall.
After a five-week trial, he finally admitted to having killed Guylaine Potvin on the night of April 27th to 28th, 2000, but continued to plead not guilty to the other charge against him, namely sexual assault.
For the prosecution, Marc-André Grenon had planned to sexually assault and kill Guylaine Potvin before he even entered her apartment, meaning the man should be found guilty of first-degree murder.