A lawyer suspended for a month

Photo archives, Ben Pelosse
Geneviève Dagenais is the subject of a provisional suspension. He is an attorney of experience who has led several folders of murder in his career.

Michael Nguyen

Thursday, September 7, 2017 20:16

UPDATE
Thursday, September 7, 2017 20:16

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A prosecutor of the Crown has been suspended after having denounced the lack of resources in forensic psychiatry at the approach of a trial for murder.

Geneviève Dagenais was to ensure the prosecution during the murder trial this month, but she will not be able to participate since it has temporarily been relieved of his duties.

“This is an exceptional and rare, used either in case of administrative investigation, or of gross negligence,” explains Jean Campeau, chairman of the Association of prosecutors for criminal and penal prosecutions [APPCP].

Critical

Depending on what was learned The Newspaper, the incident that would have led to the suspension dates back to the month of July. Geneviève Dagenais prepared then the trial of a man accused of violently killed his wife in front of his children in 2012.

In order to prepare for the trial, she would have wanted to recruit an expert, without success. It would have then wrote to the trial judge and his superiors to denounce the lack of resources in psychiatry, legal Director of criminal and penal prosecutions [DPCP].

The situation appeared to be settled as the Crown had been able to retain an expert, but the prosecutor has been notified last week that it was the subject of a provisional suspension, with pay.

“It is clear that, according to us, to Me Dagenais has fulfilled all of its duties and complied with the ethical rules, commented Jean Campeau. We will challenge this extent, it has our support. “

Shock wave

The news of the suspension has created a shock wave at the palais de justice of Montreal, especially as it has the reputation of being actively involved in its records, most of which concern serious crimes such as murder.

“We consider that the administrative action is inappropriate, as it causes damage to the reputation of the attorney,” laments Jean Campeau.

The DPCP has not wanted to comment, since this is a case concerning the relationship between an employee and his employer.

“We engage regularly with experts-psychiatrists in the folders when required “, however, specified Jean-Pascal Boucher.

The trial which was to take part Me Dagenais will indeed take place as planned, he added.

“A prosecutor has been appointed to the folder and it is ready to proceed, said Jean-Pascal Boucher.