An ex-taxi driver haunted by a “psychopath”

Photo Stevens Leblanc
The victim, Martin Gignac has the impression of having met the devil on September 11, 2009.

Catherine Bouchard

Monday, 23 October 2017 00:00

UPDATE
Monday, 23 October 2017 00:00

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A former taxi driver, whose life has turned a nightmare since a savage attack with a knife, can finally breathe a sigh of relief while their abuser may be deported to his country of origin in the next month, at the end of his sentence.

On September 11, 2009 will forever be marked in the memory of Martin Gignac, now 51 years old. The taxi driver, at the time, has served several times during the same evening, Mohamed Tahri.

Mr. Gignac was far from suspecting that the man was dangerous when he embarked for a last race. “He had the bright eyes of love. He offered me to share his lunch at Mcdonald’s “, he recalls. Tahri had yet to assault another driver, shortly before.

“He took me to the neck and said to me : “Give me your plug, otherwise, I thee bore,” says former taxi driver, who has been trying so hard to defend. There, he had more love in his eyes. It was the devil. “

Tahri has attacked it with a knife-style X-acto and he has bitten the finger. He has had the time to seriously injure Mr. Gignac before that relief arrives.

“He had no fear, a true psychopath. I told myself that I was finished, I was going to die, he breathed. I would have slit her throat and he would then eat two Big Macs in a total calm. This demonstrates his madness. He spoke to me as a chum and he had just attacked someone. “

Post-traumatic shock

Following the assault, Mr. Gignac has been subjected to a combination therapy of preventive. He received a diagnosis of post-traumatic shock and must also take medication for life, to soothe his depressive episodes. Mr. Gignac attempted to return to work a few years later, without success. In August 2012, he has also suffered a violent psychosis, during which he thought would put an end to his days.

“I wanted to go buy myself some weapons. I wanted to kill and kill me then, ” he says. I bathed in the pool. I didn’t even have the energy to take a shower, ” admits the man, who is broken.

After long steps with the IVAC, Mr. Gignac has managed to obtain compensation maximum, until the age of 65 years. Nevertheless, he had to mortgage a second time his home.

Mr. Gignac is pleased that the assailant is not released at the end of his sentence, on the 8th of November. Tahri will be under the custody of the Agency of Canada border services (CBSA), which will examine the possibility of expelling the offender to his country of origin, Morocco.

“It’s going to help me feel safe and reassures me that he will not attack me. It is a justice that is done, and I find it removes a big injury “, he says.

Events thread

September 11, 2009

Mohamed Tahri attacks viciously two taxi drivers in Quebec. He was arrested several hours later.

June 2, 2010

Tahri is sentenced to 75 months in prison.

November 19, 2013

He is eligible for full parole (1/3 of the award), but it is denied, because it presents too high risk to commit a serious crime upon his release.

May 18, 2015

He is eligible for statutory release (2/3 of sentence), but it is denied him, because it presents too high risk to commit a serious crime upon his release. Less than 4 % of inmates have not had their statutory release in 2013-2014, according to the Correctional Service of Canada.

8 November 2017

The end of the sentence.

Who is Mohamed Tahri ?

• Of moroccan origin, 29 years old
• He remained at Beauport before his incarceration
• He has several criminal convictions in more than forty cases, of which theft, fraud, assault and domestic violence
• According to a report from the parole Board of Canada dated as of 2014, he has antisocial personality disorder and represents a moderate to high-risk of recurrence