Accused of the rape of a minor, there are more than 35 years, the music producer Pierre Marchand denies any

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Michel Bellemare

Friday, 25 August, 2017 15:39

UPDATE
Friday, 25 August, 2017 15:39

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The businessman and musical producer Pierre Marchand, a co-founder of the chain MusiquePlus, is facing several charges of a sexual nature on a minor, including rape.

According to a legal document obtained by TVA Nouvelles, Pierre Marchand, is accused of rape, indecent assault, having sexual intercourse with a female person aged between 14 and 16, and gross indecency.

As the facts alleged against Mr. Merchant would have occurred in the early 1980s, it is a question of charges related to the criminal Code of the time, which no longer exist as such, but must be the basis to the parties involved in this case.

The QMI Agency has learned that the alleged facts would have occurred in the course of a single event between September 1980 and June 1981, in Laval, while the accused was in his early twenties.

The proceedings against Pierre Marchand began at the end of the month of march last, when a warrant of arrest was launched against him. He was then committed to comply with certain conditions, including not to contact the complainant.

At the stage of initial appearance, at the palace of justice in Laval, on may 24, he came to know through his lawyer, Marc-Antoine Carette, of the charges against him and a date has been set for the preliminary inquiry.

During the preliminary inquiry, last Wednesday, still at the palais de justice de Laval, the complainant was heard, and a civilian witness and the principal investigator of record. The survey was conducted by the service de police de Laval.

Pierre Marchand will be back in court on September 8 to set a trial date.

He denies any

In the late afternoon on Friday, shortly after the news about it had been broadcast, Dr. Merchant has published a short press release in which he rejected “categorically” the allegations in its place.

“Pierre Marchand confirms that an accusation of a sexual nature has recently been filed against him before the superior Court of Quebec with respect to an event dating back more than 35 years”, one can read in the press release.

“Mr Merchant denied the allegations of the complainant and intends to assert at the appropriate time its position, defend its reputation and its honor with all the determination which he is known. In the meantime, no further comment will be issued by Mr. Merchant or his counsel of record, Marc-Antoine Carette.”

The name of the complainant and the facts alleged, and the circumstances are the subject of an order of publication, the media cannot therefore disclose it.

As the acts complained of date back to the 1980s, that is before a recast of the legislation concerning sexual assault, are also the sentences of the period which would apply in the case of a guilty verdict, has confirmed mr. Carette to the QMI Agency.

“The charges are those of the time and these are also the sentences of the time [that would apply],” said Me Carette during a brief interview.

Me Carette expects the trial to take place in 2018. The trial will take place before a judge and jury.