A few months after the sordid murder of his father in Lac-Saint-Charles, Jacques Côté’s son also plans to sue the city of Quebec, which could not avoid the drama and images of horror that have been burned into his memory. .
Still a victim of intense post-traumatic stress, 34-year-old Simon Côté is struggling to recover from the death of his father, who was killed on Thibodeau Street.
Photo archive QMI Agency, Marcel Tremblay
As the holiday season approaches, he feels unable to visit his family. Optionally, he still lives in his father’s apartment building, just a stone’s throw from the spot where the poor 65-year-old collapsed after being attacked by a young man in the Crisis.
Since April 6th, Simon Côté has been stuck in a very dark tunnel, although he can talk about it now.
“If I have to stop eating to keep house, I will. It’s the only place where I feel safe, even if it hurts,” he explains.
The urn in the house
On a landing rests the urn containing his father’s ashes. Relatives symbolically selected a hand-worked tree trunk for the 65-year-old forest engineer.
“I can’t touch it or go to the second floor of the house. A piece is still intact. He spent all his time there,” adds Simon.
Due to his very emotional statement, we quickly understand that the drama is still haunting him.
Photo archive QMI Agency, Marcel Tremblay
“My father would lie face down in front of everyone for hours. I have neighbors who still ask me about it. They are characterized by this. Today I was supposed to be with my father and I don’t have him anymore. It was taken away from me. It’s not a disease, it’s murder. I just want the pictures taken of him on the ground. It occupies 99% of my thoughts. I’ve lost 46 pounds and I still sleep poorly.
Simon Côté admits he wanted to end it too. “Yes, three weeks ago. It didn’t go well. I thought about it and started looking for people around me who could help me.
Through the pain, he also seeks a lawyer to guide him. He thinks of the speed of action, the lack of staff and the coroner’s office, which insists it’s too early to say if there will be a public inquiry. “They admit there were mistakes. You don’t have to increase the time.”
A painful sorrow
While awaiting a response from the Quebec Crime Victim Compensation Program (IVAC), Simon Côté meets the parents of the defendant Kim Lebel from time to time.
“You can always go to your son. I would give anything to spend 15 minutes with my dad. He will heal. Me, my pillar is no longer there.
Recently, he was unable to attend a medical follow-up knowing the alleged killer is being held at the same location. “Just knowing makes me nervous. I also know that one day it will come out and I’m already thinking about it.
- A plaque in honor of Jacques Côté will be unveiled in Duchesnay next spring, on his birthday, May 18th.
chronology
- Jacques Côté, victim of Quebec’s first murder of 2022.
- Kim Lebel, 30, is charged with first degree murder.
- The accused’s parents are still considering filing a lawsuit against the police.
4. April
- Two police officers visit Kim Lebel to examine her after a call from her parents.
April 5th
- The parents turn to the organization La Boussole, a group of relatives and friends of the mentally ill.
April 6th
- 9 a.m.: A judge is called to the courthouse at 11 a.m.
- 11 a.m.: The judge issues an order for Kim Lebel to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
- 12:00 p.m.: The man’s parents report to Victoria Park Police Station for a patrol to pick up their son immediately.
- 3:30-3:35 p.m.: Parents go home. When they arrive, they discover that their son is committing the irretrievable.
- 4 p.m.: The first police arrive too late.
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