“My name is Martin Chouinard”: Roland Lachance’s victim breaks the silence

The father of the family appeared at the witness stand with a red sweater in his hands, to testify to the consequences of Roland Lachance’s attacks on him.

Nickname Roland of Quebecthe photographer took on the teenager as an assistant in the early 90s, in addition to attaching him to a career as a model.

For two years, Martin Chouinard will find himself surrounded by big stars like Celine Dion and Claude Barzotti. In return, he will have to respond several times to sexual requests celebrity photographer.

4 years in prison claimed

The prosecution is claiming 4 years in prison against Lachance while the latter hopes to escape a sentence to be served in the community.

When testifying at trial in November, Martin Chouinard thought he was free.

I was looking forward to a revival, which did not comeexplanation of forty.

His bad life led him to want to take his own life again, on December 30. After staying in the hospital, and with the help of his family, he found the will to live again.

The red sweater

In front of the judge, he pulled out the red sweater. This is a gift on Father’s Day, where it is written: best father in the world.

Also listed are the names of her three children aged 5 to 10. Now, I believe. Previously, I did not believehe said with emotion.

In the courtroom, his moved wife was proudly staring at him. The father of the family can now hug his children in his arms every night, after quitting work as a sailor.

For many years, he would go to sea for five months. A life he could afford, to escape.

I was afraid of how I would react, if I bumped into him on the streethe explains.

After thanking investigators and the prosecutor, Martin Chouinard also thanked the first victim to denounce Lachance.

It was thanks to him that I decided to file a complaintunderlined forty.

He decides to remove the mandate that protects his identity, to send a message of hope.

I can kill myself three times. There are wonderful people who take care of ushe insisted.

He suggests that victims, like him, report their attacker when they think they are willing to do so.

Surely they were very good people who were brokenhe thinks.

Judge Thomas Jacques congratulated him for all the efforts made: you have every reason to be proud of yourself mr. Chouinard.

Testimony is Lachance

Born in 1932, Lachance began his career as a photographer at the age of 15. He has had no contract since he was arrested in 2019. I lost everythinghe moaned.

He would say he was in good health perfectbut confirmed to his lawyer that he had short -term memory loss.

Me François Cauchon of the defense invited the judge to moderation proposes a sentence of two years to less than one day to serve the community.

The prosecution lawyer, Me Michel Bérubé, recalled that we lived a past tense on penalties for crimes of a sexual nature.

He is claiming four years in prison because of the consequences disaster actions taken by Roland Lacance.

Judge Thomas Jacques will announce the verdict in September.

Meanwhile, the photographer is scheduled to return to court next week for sentencing submissions in another case in which he was also convicted.

He attacked another young man in the 70s.