SAINT-JÉRÔME | The three men suspected of organizing the largest network for trafficking GHB, better known as the date rape drug, in Quebec in recent years were denied their freedom pending trial on Wednesday.
“Releasing the accused pending trial would undermine public confidence in the administration of justice,” said Judge Sophie Lavergne at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse.
“The nature of the offences, the type and amount of drugs involved, the circumstances of the commission, the duration of the activities, the likelihood of a conviction, the degree of involvement of the accused, the fact that it is a shared adventure in which all are involved.” “These are all elements that initially plead for their detention on board,” she continued.
In the afternoon, relatives of the defendants occupied around twenty seats in the courtroom to hear the court’s decision on their request for release.
Sébastien Turcotte, 43, Jean-Philippe Robitaille, 44, and Éric Matte, 42, sat next to each other in the dock. After the decision, they got emotional.
Photo from Sébastien Turcotte’s Facebook page
Sebastien Turcotte
Between 2014 and 2022, the members of this trio are accused of gangsterism and the manufacture, possession, transport and trafficking of narcotics.
We are currently under a publication ban from disclosing the evidence gathered by the authorities as part of this investigation.
Inadequate plans
Nevertheless, in the winter of 2022, the apartment of one of the accused was searched. The suspects were subsequently arrested last February.
“This production and distribution network was extensive, very active for several years and inevitably brought in significant income,” said the magistrate.
Although their loved ones, some of whom broke down in tears upon learning of their continued incarceration, had promised tens of thousands of dollars in bail, “which for some represented the savings of a lifetime,” Judge Lavergne was not convinced the defendants would be released benefit from the oversight required to comply with the conditions of release.
“Your release plans are inadequate. The crimes are extremely serious. The evidence is strong. Their level of involvement is significant and the expectation of a long prison sentence is evident,” she said.
Photo from Mélanie Turcotte’s Facebook page
Jean Philippe Robitaille
She pointed out that by committing these crimes, the detainees “lied” to them and “hidden” the fact that they had lived on the fringes of society for all those years.
“How could you force anything today on these men who made that decision? said Judge Lavergne.
“The casualness of these mature men from good families who are fathers themselves, simply blinded by the lure of profit and working without the knowledge of their families, is worrying,” she continued.
Photo QMI Agency, Maxime Deland
Éric Matte, 42, was arrested at his home on rue du Florilège in Terrebonne. MAXIME DELAND/QMI AGENCY
Devastating Drug
The court also referred to the current context in which the crimes took place.
“In order to minimize the dangerousness of this product, defense attorneys do not consider the current situation surrounding this drug,” suggests Judge Lavergne.
“The harm caused by a drug of this type is recognized. And while we cannot match a specific face to one or more of the victims, there are undoubtedly multiple victims of the crimes alleged against the accused. Playing down the nature of the drug and claiming it was a victimless crime ignores the chaos that has been wrought across society,” she argued.
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