Nearly 7 years in prison for having lured an elder

Archival Photo, Sylvain Denis
The driver of the Honda Civic smashed into a pole after being struck fatally Jean’brien in Pointe-Calumet.

Claudia Berthiaume

Friday, February 23, 2018 18:57

UPDATE
Friday, February 23, 2018 18:57

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A young hit and a repeat offender has been sentenced to nearly seven years in jail on Friday to have struck fatally, an elder from Pointe-Calumet, while he was driving drunk and without a licence.

“You have broken the lives of many in this close-knit family “, said judge Sandra Blanchard by sending Mathieu Grenon at the penitentiary.

Man of 23 years came to recognize his guilt to counts of dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm, failure to stop to offer assistance after an accident, driving with over 80 mg of alcohol in the blood and non-compliance with probation.

Two times the limit

On the 30th of July last, in the afternoon, a police officer of the intermunicipal board of management of police of Lake of Two Mountains, tried to catch the resident of Quebec, close to the Beach Club in Pointe-Calumet.

Mathieu Grenon was overtaking dangerous at high speed at the wheel of the Honda Civic from his friend.

Despite the signs of the patrol, the young hit and fled.

Photo Frederique Giguere

John’brien, deceased

Barely two kilometers away, the driver was yanked violently John’brien, a 66-year old man who was doing his daily walking in his neighborhood.

A young man and a young woman that took place in the car were injured in the collision. The impact was so violent that the body of Mr Brien has been severed in two.

Mathieu Grenon has attempted to leave the scene on foot, but it was quickly found in the yard of a residence, a few streets away. He had twice the limit of alcohol permissible in the blood and his driving licence was not valid for three years.

He had already found himself in prison for having fled the police, in 2014.

Several members of the family’brien, a resident on the street where occurred the collision. They were present at the scene of horror, helpless.

Shattered lives

Photo Claudia Berthiaume

Caroline (back), Richard and Diane’brien, the niece, the brother and the sister-in-law of the victim, were present at the palais de justice in Saint-Jérôme on Friday.

The niece of the victim wished to be heard in court Friday so that the accused understands the consequences of his actions.

“This man, killing my uncle, also killed the calm, the peace and the serenity that reigned in my family. It has broken our lives, ” testified Caroline Brien.

“I’m sorry for the turn of events. I never had the intention to kill someone, ” said the young man, before being sentenced to six years and ten months of detention.

Upon his release from the penitentiary, he will be prohibited from driving for 10 years.

What they said

“In spite of the countless advertising campaigns [drinking and driving] is the crime that causes the most deaths in Canada. You go to jail : think about it. “

“You’ll have to wear it all your life the consequences of the crime you have committed. “

– Justice Sandra Blanchard

“I did not expect to enter the prison that day. I thought I would finally be released, and I’m still here. “

– The hit Mathieu Grenon

“I would have liked to feel that he had a little bit of guilt, of regret. I supported her gaze and I saw nothing of this. Even his tone of voice was cold. “

– Caroline’brien, the niece of the victim, exiting the court room

“He has the air of a young person who cares about everything. “

– Diane’brien, the sister-in-law of the victim, exiting the court room