A 27-year-old can’t forgive himself for killing a 70-year-old by pushing him off a balcony after a heated argument, who now admits he sees himself as “a killer”.
• Also read: Guilty of causing an Elder’s fatal fall
• Also read: 26-year-old accused of cowardly killing an elder
“I remain trapped in my guilt,” said Samuel Charbonneau. When I found out about his death, I screamed loud and clear that I was a murderer. […] Every day I still try to understand.
The young man testified Wednesday at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse as part of the accounts for the sentence he was to receive, he who pleaded guilty to the involuntary death of Jacques Bernier on September 11, 2021 in Huberdeau, a small commune to have caused in the Laurentians south of Mont-Tremblant.
On that fateful day, Charbonneau was spending the evening with a friend and his wife in a small bar. As he was walking to a nearby supermarket, he was yelled at “for no reason” by the victim who lived next door.
Photo archive, Roxane Trudel
Samuel Charbonneau [centre]
“Bullet to the head” threat
“He threatened me, he said ‘put your mask on or I’ll shoot you in the head’. I didn’t understand why,” said Samuel Charbonneau.
The young man then tried to “defuse” the situation by making jokes with him.
Both the shop assistant and a bar employee and her friend told him to “let go” of Mr. Bernier because he was known in the village for his habit of standing on his balcony and making remarks to passers-by.
With kind approval
Jacques Bernier
For the remainder of the evening, during which he consumed quite a bit of alcohol, the defendant couldn’t get over this interaction, where he felt “offended.”
“My head is spinning from the argument and I’m starting to get a lot more intoxicated,” Charbonneau admitted.
He then decided to return to the victim with a friend to “understand why he said that.”
Photo submitted as evidence in court
As part of their investigation, police returned to the scene on October 28, 2021.
Two-handed press
But the discussion quickly degenerated. Jacques Bernier held a small fork in his hands and the sound grew louder as the victim said he was going to “prick” her.
“I had a moment of little panic. My brain associated the fork he had in his hands going into my friend’s eyes, when I pushed him he went over the railing,” explained Samuel Charbonneau, acknowledging that he had used both hands.
In a panic, the two friends ran away and returned to the bar.
Photo submitted as evidence in court
This fork, which the victim was holding on the evening of the tragedy, was found at the crime scene. The officials put a pen next to it to determine the size.
He turned himself in
The next day, the defendant went to the police station to report himself.
“I was just thinking of Mr. Bernier’s family and didn’t want them to have to wait too long for justice. I wanted to take that burden off my shoulders too, he explained. I put a killer’s tag on my forehead.
He “cried all the tears of his body” upon learning of the death of the victim, who succumbed to his injuries almost 3 weeks after the fall.
“If it were you, when would you have pleaded guilty?” asked his attorney Me Stéphanie Auclaire.
“As soon as I learned of Mr. Bernier’s death,” Samuel Charbonneau replied.
Two different visions
The prosecution and defense will present their arguments regarding the punishment for the accused today.
Crown prosecutor on the record, Me Steve Baribeau, has announced his intention to seek a sentence of between three and four years.
Several suggestions are made for defense:
- A suspended sentence of three years’ probation accompanied by 240 hours of community service
- 90 days in jail intermittently, on weekends
- 2 years imprisonment less 1 day, at home
Judge Nancy McKenna has to decide.
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