Disappointment for the family of Raphaël Bussières

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The 15 members of the family of Raphaël Bussières took a moment to gather in the vicinity of the courtroom during the trial, Victoria.

Jean-François Racine

Sunday, 24 dec 2017 00:00

UPDATE
Sunday, 24 dec 2017 00:00

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The suspect accused of the murder of Raphaël Bussières, a young man of Lévis killed in Victoria in November 2016, has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter in front of the family of the victim, who does not hide his disappointment.

According to the Times Colonist, the judge Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten concluded that there was no evidence that the accused had the specific intent to kill Raphaël Bussières on the evening of the drama. The judge therefore dismissed the charge of murder in the second degree against Justin Card, 28 years old. The latter was dragging a heavy past justice for crimes, often violent.

Bussières has been stabbed outside a Mcdonald’s restaurant in Victoria, British Columbia. He died two days later in the hospital.

Fears confirmed

Just before jetting off to the West of the country for the trial, the mother of Raphael Bussieres told the Newspaper that the worst-case scenario for the family was the hypothesis of a conviction for manslaughter with a reduced sentence.

After four days of hearing, the fears were confirmed last Thursday. The sentence that will be imposed on December 28, next could vary between six and 10 years in penitentiary.

Friday night, the mother of the victim was still unaware of the date of his return to Quebec. The relatives were able to make a statement before the court.

“I’m flushed like never before in my life. If you knew the aberrations that we have heard for the defence. And the worst thing is that it works, ” quipped Ms. Lachance with despite.

Crime recorded on video

The crime was recorded in full by a surveillance camera. “I went out to the video, but my husband stayed. It is indescribable. The accused is a person inherently violent, and two days before he was detained. “

The family members are present in very large numbers. The parents of Bussières, her three young sisters, her grandparents, an aunt, an uncle and six cousins have traveled to Quebec city and Toronto to attend the trial.

The mother of a family will continue to campaign in favour of aid to the victims that it considers inadequate, in comparison with all the rights of the accused.