A brilliant student. A theater lover. A devoted mother of five children. Andréane Ouellet was all of that. But over the years she became a victim of domestic violence. Her executioner, Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand, killed her by attacking her. A murder that, according to the Crown, would have earned him a prison sentence of at least 15 years.
Published at 11:52 am.
“They were taken from us,” Nathaly Bherer said on the witness stand in the Joliette courthouse. The steadfast mother of Andréane Ouellet gave a moving testimony on Tuesday while observing the sentence to be imposed on Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand.
The 38-year-old man was found guilty by a jury last month of the second-degree murder of his wife – and mother of their five children – in September 2021 at their Saint-Donat residence. He automatically faces a life sentence. It remains to be seen how long the suspended sentence will expire. The Crown is asking for 15 years, compared to 11 years for the defence.
Andréane Ouellet’s mother recalled that her daughter was very different before she met her tormentor. “You had your life ahead of you,” his mother says. Young Andréane won the Quebec bar scholarship and several public speaking competitions as a law student and then in communications.
“They had extraordinary empathy for others. Helpful, generous. Like Mother Teresa, you wanted to save the world,” admits Nathaly Bherer.
Andréane loved her five children “unconditionally,” emphasizes the grandmother. They were “everything” to her. “Unfortunately your task has become very difficult. You’ve caught yourself in a net you can’t get out of. “You suffered in silence and alone,” her mother complains.
The grandparents now look after the five small children. A heavy burden for pensioners who are forced to “put their grief on hold” to care for these orphans. Judge Eric Downs also wanted to highlight Nathaly Bherer’s “strength, courage, resilience and immense goodness.”
“I feel really bad”
Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand addressed the court casually. “There are no words to express how sorry I am for what happened to Andréane. I feel really bad. I loved it. I never wanted her to die. I don’t know what happened… I’m sorry…” he said.
Photo submitted as evidence
Alexandre Boudreau Chartrand
However, the evidence is clear: Alexandre Boudreau-Chartrand attacked Andréane Ouellet in order to kill her. It’s not just a fatal blow. The injuries to the victim’s face were so severe that they could only have been caused by repeated and very violent blows.
Another complicating factor: the murderer did not call for help after the murder. He even had the courage to make people believe that his partner had committed suicide. He also constantly portrayed her as a suicidal alcoholic who was on medication.
The Crown also considers the context of domestic violence and the impact on victims to be aggravating factors.
Defense attorney Élise Pinsonnault insisted her client did not hit the victim before the murder. Without wanting to “degrade” the victim, the lawyer argued that Andréane Ouellet – a petite woman – had behaved “violently” towards her spouse.
“There was verbal violence on both sides. That’s the important point,” she pleaded.
“He may have behaved reprehensibly. It was probably inadequate. Did the Lord use force? Did he hit Madame? NO. It is an isolated act,” argued Me Pinsonnault, who works with Me Catherine Ranalli.
Statements that shocked Crown prosecutor Me Valérie Michaud. “In 2023, psychological violence is just as important,” emphasized the prosecutor together with Me Caroline Buist.
The defense also claims that the risk of the offender re-offending is zero and that the chances of rehabilitation are “significant”. However, according to the Crown, there is no evidence of this.
The judge will make his decision on November 20th.