The man suspected of strangling his partner at a Terrebonne senior living facility was charged Thursday with first-degree murder.
Published at 12:38 p.m. Updated at 12:55 p.m
Gilles Brassard, 81, was arrested on Wednesday evening at the Pierre-Le Gardeur hospital, where his health improved in recent hours. His appearance took place on Thursday via video conference from his hospital bed.
The man is suspected of killing his partner Thérèse Brassard-Lévesque, 79, in Resource de Lanaudière last Saturday. The woman, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, lived in one of the 144 units at the complex at the intersection of Highways 40 and 640. It was employees who found the couple unconscious in the woman’s room on Saturday.
According to our information, the man swallowed a large amount of medication to commit suicide. He was taken to hospital by ambulance. Police waited for his health to improve before arresting him.
The charge of first-degree murder is the most serious charge in the Canadian Criminal Code.
This murder is the ninth suspected femicide of the year.