Former soldier Martin Lévesque was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of his neighbor Patricia Sirois, a tragedy that occurred in Saint-Raymond in September 2021.
• Also read: “ We are all condemned to life » : Patricia Sirois’ family expresses all their pain and incomprehension to the perpetrator
Lévesque initially stood trial for second-degree murder, but the jury ultimately convicted him of involuntary manslaughter of the 35-year-old woman.
In his decision on Wednesday, Judge François Huot highlighted the challenge of imposing a sentence for involuntary manslaughter and warned the victim’s family from the start.
Patricia Sirois, 35 years old, victim courtesy photo
“This verdict should not be interpreted as an assessment of the value of Patricia Sirois’ life or the impact her death had on those close to her,” the judge advised in handing down the verdict.
In doing so, he laid the foundation for what would have been most significant, namely the defendant’s psychological disorders in connection with his military career.
“[Je suis] convinced of the existence of a causal connection between the post-traumatic stress disorder and the crime committed. This must play a crucial role in the sentence imposed on the defendant.”
“Missing in Afghanistan”
François Huot also addressed the soldier Martin Lévesque and sentenced him to eight years in prison, of which five years remained to be served due to preventive detention.
For the judge, the real Lévesque “has been missing in Afghanistan since the fall of 2009.”
“This Martin Lévesque, it is your duty to find him,” emphasized the judge, recalling that the 51-year-old owes it to Patricia Sirois and her family, but also to his brothers in arms who died in battle.
“You have a moral obligation to take control of yourself and pull yourself together to honor the memory of those who have left,” stressed François Huot, adding that this is “an order.”
Divergent analysis
Lévesque’s lawyer welcomed the judge’s decision and considered that it reflected all facets of this particular case.
I Pierre Gagnon, lawyer for Martin Lévesque, during the sentencing in the case of the murder of Patricia Sirois on October 4, 2023. PHOTO CREDIT: Pierre-Paul Biron, Journal de Québec Photo credit: Pierre-Paul Biron
“The judge largely underlined the personality of Martin Lévesque, the accomplished soldier that he was and who, unfortunately, was irreversibly affected during the operations,” analyzed Me Pierre Gagnon.
The Crown prosecutor, Me Matthieu Rochette, sees the situation differently. He regrets that the judge did not give the expected weight to certain aggravating factors.
“We think in particular of the fact that the crime was committed against a vulnerable victim in front of her children, as well as the risk of repetition,” responded Me Rochette, refusing to comment on this possibility for the time being in a call.
I Matthieu Rochette after the verdict in the trial of Martin Lévesque, guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of Patricia Sirois. PHOTO CREDIT: Pierre-Paul Biron, Journal de Québec Photo credit: Pierre-Paul Biron
For their part, those close to Patricia Sirois had difficulty welcoming the judge’s decision, regretting that “a mother’s life is not worth more than eight years.”
In front of his children
Remember that Martin Lévesque killed Patricia Sirois with six shots on September 10, 2021 in Saint-Raymond. The mother returned to her house, which was very close to the defendant’s house, with her two children on board.
Photo provided by the court
During the trial, other neighbors testified that they had tense conversations with Lévesque in the hours before the 35-year-old’s death. Lévesque himself admitted that at the time he was disturbed by certain incidents in his home that increased his paranoia and hypervigilance, both of which were related to his post-traumatic stress disorder. A veritable arsenal of assault weapons and ammunition was found in his apartment.
Photo provided by the court
The defense claimed that Martin Lévesque was “dissociating” at the time of the events, with the defendant insisting several times that he did not remember the moments in which the tragedy occurred.
“I had absolutely nothing against this person. […] To this day, I don’t really understand why this happened,” he testified during the sentencing hearing.
Chronology of the acts
September 10, 2021
Martin Lévesque shot his neighbor Patricia Sirois six times as she drove past the former soldier’s house with her children in the back seat behind the wheel of her car.
1um May 2022
Lévesque’s second-degree murder trial opens in Quebec before Judge François Huot. The defense does not allege criminal liability for mental disorders.
Screenshot provided by the court
May 18, 2022
The former soldier testified and told the jury about the horrors of war, which left him with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
June 15, 2022
After six weeks of trial but less than two days of deliberations, the jury finally found Martin Lévesque guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
September 6, 2023
Poignant statement from the victim’s family during the sentencing. The prosecution is demanding a sentence of 15 years in prison, while the defense is proposing a sentence of five years in prison with probation.
October 4, 2023
Judge Huot decides: Martin Lévesque is sentenced to 8 years in prison. Taking into account the pre-trial detention, his term of serving is 5 years.