Farmer accused of criminal negligence that led to the deaths of four people in July 2020 pleads against Jordan’s decision to avoid trial; The judge will make her decision next Monday.
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On July 1, 2020, in Notre-Dame-de-Stanbridge, three children under 5 and an adult died after being thrown from the tractor bucket of the defendant, who cannot be identified due to a publication ban.
The trial is scheduled for March 2024. The defense cites unreasonable delays in discontinuing the criminal case.
The trial, scheduled for October 2023, had to be postponed due to a conflict of interest between the judge and a potential witness.
The defendant’s lawyer, Michel Dussault, argued that the problem was institutional, as no other judge would be available before 2024.
For its part, the prosecution considers that these are exceptional circumstances and that the Jordan ruling does not apply in this case.
Judge Johanne Brodeur deliberated on the case and will announce her decision on October 23rd.