The prison for those whose dog has disfigured a young girl?

Archival Photo, Frederique Giguere
Karim Jean-Gilles

Claudia Berthiaume

Thursday, 22-feb-2018 11:28

UPDATE
Thursday, 22-feb-2018 21:42

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Merciless towards the owner of the pitbull who disfigured a young girl, a judge in Longueuil wants to send a clear message by condemning him to at least three years of penitentiary.

“It concerns me. I find that there is a message to throw in there, ” insisted the judge Pierre Bélisle Thursday.

Archival Photo Chantal Poirier

After three days in court, the parents of Vanessa Biron, Magdalena (from the front) and Bernard (right), can turn the page.

The magistrate said Karim Jean-Gilles guilty of criminal negligence causing bodily harm to the little Vanessa Biron, at the palais de justice de Longueuil.

This verdict has relieved the parents of the little girl. “This is a chapter that closes, we look to the future,” said Bernard Biron after the hearing.

This is the first time in Quebec that a dog owner is found guilty of such an accusation, the outcome of a trial. There have been a few rare previous, but the defendants have pleaded guilty.

The judge Bélisle has not been kind to the accused to 35 years. “By failing on numerous occasions to comply with its legal obligations, it is clear that the accused is a person reckless who does not care for the law and the safety of others,” he said.

Mr. Jean-Gilles knew that his pitbull and bull mastiffs were dangerous, according to the judge.

No control

“It has left the custody to her mother [age 70] who had no control over them,” he noted.

The 20 September 2015, Vanessa Biron went to the park Marquise, Brossard, with his mom and his younger sister.

The mother of Karim Jean-Gilles was also located there, with two dogs of her son, who had no leashes or collars.

Without warning and for no apparent reason, the pit bull charges at Vanessa. The little girl of 7 years has tried to escape by running, but the dog has projected to the ground and bitten in the face.

Enraged, the animal dragged the child on at least three meters. The mother of Vanessa tried to protect them by making a shield with his own body.

Significant after-effects

Screenshot of VAT New

Vanessa Biron

The little girl had his jaw broken in seven pieces, the play ground, the salivary gland torn off and the inner ear destroyed, among other things.

Vanessa will have to live with an unsightly scar and facial paralysis all his life.

Because of the significant after-effects of the child, criminal history, many of Karim Jean-Gilles and the blatant lack of empathy, in particular, the Crown prosecutor suggested to the magistrate that a sentence of three years in prison Thursday.

“I was thinking of a more severe penalty,” commented the judge Bélisle, surprised.

The accused, who defends himself alone, refused to comment on a sentence.

♦ Wishing to reflect further, the judge Bélisle will vote next month on the sentence.

What they said

“[Jean-Gilles] do not respect anything or anyone, nor faith, nor law. […] It’s like teflon, there is nothing that takes on Mr. “ – Judge Pierre Bélisle

“[The accused] had the burden and responsibility to its animals and does is of little concern. A chain or necklace, nor fence, nor a muzzle, nothing has been done to secure the premises ” – The judge Pierre Bélisle

“I don’t have the impression that Mr. Jean-Gilles has done the introspection necessary individual to realize his responsibility, and it’s been two and a half years” – The prosecutor of the Crown, Claudie Gilbert

“His negligence has put the chaos in a beautiful small family who was simply going to the park” – The prosecutor of the Crown, Claudie Gilbert

“I would have appreciated regrets, of sadness, of empathy [on the part of Karim Jean-Gilles]. There has been nothing of it ” – Bernard Biron, father of Vanessa