A man accused of, among other things, threatening to kill Prime Minister François Legault and Minister Geneviève Guilbault pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon before changing his mind at the last second. Martin Huberdeau acknowledges that these writings were “hateful and very threatening”.
Posted at 4:06pm
Louis Samuel Perron The Press
The 43-year-old Montreal native faces five charges, including four for making death threats against Prime Ministers François Legault and Justin Trudeau, as well as Quebec Court Judge Sophie Lavergne and Public Safety Secretary Genevieve Guilbault.
According to facts presented in court on Friday, Martin Huberdeau sent 22 emails to a staffer at the Quebec Court of Appeals last June, firing red bullets at the judiciary and the political class. Among other things, he wrote that he would “break Minister Guilbault’s neck” and kill her family “like Hannibal”. He also said he wanted to kill Judge Sophie Lavergne “on behalf of Legault” and attack the two prime ministers.
During Friday’s hearing, Martin Huberdeau appeared determined to plead guilty, admit his guilt to each of the charges and answer his attorney’s usual questions. Crown prosecutor Me Charles Doucet also reported the facts to the judge and explained the defendant’s threatening letters. So everything was headed towards a common proposal.
However, when Judge Silvie Kovacevich told the defendant that she could reject the joint proposal if it was inappropriate, Martin Huberdeau took a few seconds before suggesting the case be postponed until next week to “think about it.” The judge therefore did not agree with his admission of guilt.
“Maybe I hadn’t read everything. Those are things I just remembered. I did a psychiatric report on this. So I got a result,” he said confused.
“I didn’t expect to be reminded of all that at the time. I don’t feel very, very good about all the emails I sent three months ago. It didn’t put me in a good bubble. Maybe the weekend is good to sort that out,” added Martin Huberdeau, who appeared via videoconference from Bordeaux prison.
However, the defendant said he was “ready to acknowledge the facts”. He added that these writings did not reflect his “personality”. “It’s still pretty hateful, very rude, very threatening at times,” he agreed.
The case was postponed to October 3. However, the Crown Prosecutor warned that his “offer is for today”.
Me Catherine Hébert represented the defendant, who until then had defended himself.