DNA was discovered from “evidence” found at the site of little Cédrika Provencher's bones, Jonathan Bettez's lawyer revealed in court on Tuesday. Evidence that could potentially exonerate the man who remains police's main suspect in the murder that has defined Quebec.
Published at 4:28 p.m. Updated at 5:07 p.m
“ [Il y a] an analysis report analyzing the DNA found in the evidence at the site of the bones. If this analysis shows that it is not Jonathan Bettez, this is an exculpatory element. If it turns out to be Jonathan Bettez, I have the right to know,” argued Jessy Héroux, Jonathan Bettez's lawyer, at the Montreal courthouse.
Who does this DNA belong to? This information was not disclosed in court. In any case, this is the first time that the presence of DNA at the site of Cédrika Provencher's bones has been publicly confirmed. Does the “evidence” mentioned refer to bones, clothing, or other items left behind by the murderer? That remains a mystery. And at this point in the legal process, it looks set to remain that way.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Jonathan Bettez at the Montreal courthouse on Monday.
The secrecy surrounding Cédrika Provencher's bones, discovered in 2015, was the focus of debate Tuesday during a preliminary hearing in the $10 million lawsuit filed by Jonathan Bettez and his family against the Sûreté du Québec and the government. Essentially, Mr. Bettez accuses them of ruining his life by falsely portraying him as the murderer of the little girl who disappeared in 2007.
The arguments, which took place before Judge Gregory Moore on Tuesday, revolved around preliminary issues of disclosure of evidence. So it's not about the process. The Bettez camp is demanding to receive an SQ investigator's notes relating, among other things, to the 9-year-old girl's bones. The Quebec Attorney General (PGQ), which represents the SQ, rejects this, citing a “fishing trip” by the plaintiffs.
According to Me Héroux, the SQ may have evidence capable of exonerating Jonathan Bettez. “If there is something about the discovery of the bones that allows Jonathan Bettez to be ruled out, then it is relevant. […] I need to know this information to examine the evidence,” the lawyer argued.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
I Jessy Héroux, Jonathan Bettez's lawyer, at the Montreal courthouse on Monday.
On the other hand, elements available to the SQ could lead to the conclusion that the girl's death was an accident, argued Mr Héroux. “ [Si] The way the bones were found suggests it may have been an accident, an exculpatory factor that has been ignored. They say it's murder. What is the basis for this? » even asked Jonathan Bettez's lawyer.
In the eyes of the PGQ, the “technique” that made it possible to identify Cédrika Provencher is not “relevant” to the Bettez camp.
Me Héroux also wants to obtain the investigator's notes to find out what she said to Cédrika Provencher's parents during the investigation. ” We know that [l’enquêtrice] Daudelin informed them about certain things over time,” the lawyer said. A closed-door debate is scheduled to take place on Wednesday to resolve the issue of the investigator's notes.
If Mr Héroux clings to these documents, it is because he accuses the Sûreté du Québec of having “ignored exculpatory elements” in the investigation and of being “relentless” towards Jonathan Bettez.
His name made the rounds in Quebec when he was accused of child pornography in 2016. But two years later, Jonathan Bettez was acquitted by a judge who criticized the police for abusive actions. Mr. Bettez and his family then filed a lawsuit for damages, accusing the SQ of “incredible cruelty.”
“The child pornography case does not come out of nowhere, but because we want to find evidence [pour l’enquête de meurtre]. […] “We want to scare Jonathan and his family and pressure him into confessing,” Mr. Héroux pleaded, pointing to his client sitting in the front row of the courtroom.
The PGQ also called for a closed session for all hearings scheduled for this week. However, Judge Gregory Moore ruled in favor of the media to allow public debate as much as possible. The magistrate therefore plans to order non-publication in individual cases as part of the negotiations.
The story so far
- 2007: Cédrika Provencher, 9 years old, disappears in Trois-Rivières. The affair shocked Quebec.
- 2016: The sole suspect in the murder without an alibi, Jonathan Bettez, is arrested and charged with ten counts related to the possession, distribution and access of child pornography.
- 2018: He is acquitted of all charges related to child pornography and accuses the police of a “fishing operation” and abusive investigative approaches.
- 2019: Jonathan Bettez and his family file a lawsuit against the authorities, demanding 10 million in damages for destroying his life and tarnishing his name.