The judge began Thursday to give his instructions to the jurors responsible for deciding the fate of the author of the saber attacks in Old Quebec.
You don’t have to answer to anyoneJudge Richard Grenier insisted, reminding jury members that their deliberations must remain confidential.
The magistrate explained that the state of mind of the defendants, on the eve of Halloween 2020, was most importantly.
Carl Girouard faces two counts of 1st degree murder and 5 others of attempted murder.
He filed a defense of non -criminal liability, due to mental disorder.
No acknowledgment
There was no room for acquittal, as the defendant admitted that he had committed the actssaid Judge Grenier.
The expert testimony is therefore of great importance in this case, based on the state of mind of the 26-year-old accused.
Defense psychiatrist Gilles Chamberland believes Girouard was unable to tell right from wrong because he was in psychosis due to unspecified schizophrenia.
The prosecution believes the opposite, relying on the testimony of psychiatrist Sylvain Faucher, who believes Girouard committed a brilliant act, testifying to his resentment towards society.
The judge invited the jurors to study the qualifications of the experts and to assess the objectivity of each.
The issue of reasonable doubt was also addressed by the judge.
This will be important if jurors find Girouard responsible for the crime.
The judge indicated that manslaughter, murder in the 2nd and first degree would be possible.
Despite any doubt
The prosecution must have presented without any doubt all the elements necessary to arrive at a guilty verdict in the most serious case, 1st degree murder.
The judge will discuss this issue more specifically next week, while his instructions will continue on Monday.
Judge Grenier decided to split the exercise, so that jurors could start thinking, behind closed doors, from next week.
Source: Radio-Canada
