Joël Mailhot’s family say they are relieved that Kevin Sanders was found guilty at the Sherbrooke Courthouse on Friday evening.
• Also read: Kevin Sanders found guilty of Joel Mailhot’s murder
• Also read: Trial of Kevin Sanders: Coroner testifies
Because the defendant defended himself alone, without a lawyer, and remained silent throughout the trial, his victim’s family at times feared the trial would derail.
“I was very afraid that it could go wrong,” says the victim’s father, Gérard Mailhot. Because it seemed like he was trying to delay the process all along.”
“It’s a free gesture and he deserves what he deserves,” adds Joël Mailhot’s sister, Chantal Mailhot.
In August 2020, Joël Mailhot attacked Joël Mailhot for no reason at La Taverne Urbaine bar.
The attack was extremely violent; Sanders grabbed the man by the throat, threw him to the ground and punched him, punching him 18 times in the face and 4 kicks directly to the head.
The jury ruled that he was fully aware of the measures taken, that his intention was to bring about the death of Joël Mailhot, that he should at least have known that it was possible.
Final judgment filings will be made in the coming weeks; Judge Charles Ouellet of the Superior Court must decide how many years in prison, between 10 and 25, Kevin Sanders must serve before he is eligible for parole.