Close X
Thursday, December 5, 2024
ADVT 
National

Jury In Case Of Montreal Man Michel Cadotte On Trial In Ailing Wife's Slaying Asks To Hear His Testimony

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Feb, 2019 12:01 AM

    MONTREAL — The jury deciding the fate of a Montreal man on trial for the killing of his ailing wife wants to hear his testimony again.

     

    Late Friday, jurors sent an envelope making the request to Quebec Superior Court Justice Helene Di Salvo, asking to relisten to Michel Cadotte's testimony.


    Cadotte, 57, is charged with second-degree murder in the slaying of Jocelyne Lizotte in February 2017.


    Lizotte, 60, was suffocated in her long-term care bed at a Montreal facility where she was receiving treatment for the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, which had left her incapable of recognizing her family or taking care of herself.


    Cadotte had been told in 2016 that his wife of 19 years did not qualify for a medically assisted death because she couldn't consent and was not considered to be at the end of her life.


    Cadotte's lawyers have argued their client was in a depressed state and was unable to cope after watching Lizotte suffer for nine years. The Crown has countered that Cadotte understood the impact of his actions and intended to kill Lizotte when he held a pillow over her face.


    The jurors have two possible verdicts open to them: They must decide whether the crime carried the intent requisite for second-degree murder or if it was manslaughter.


    The request to re-listen to Cadotte came after a second full day of deliberations that went an hour longer than usual.


    Arrangements were made to have the jurors listen to the testimony beginning Saturday. During the trial, Cadotte's testimony and cross-examination by the Crown lasted about two days.


    "They are a conscientious jury who are doing their job, so we have a lot of faith in them," Elfriede Duclervil, Cadotte's lawyer, told reporters, with fellow defence attorney Nicolas Welt adding Cadotte's testimony is central to his state of mind.


    "It's exactly what we asked them to do, and it's what they're doing," Duclervil added.


    The eight-man, four-woman jury was sequestered Wednesday after receiving lengthy instructions from Di Salvo.


    The jury will remain sequestered until they reach a unanimous verdict.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Some Undocumented U.S. Migrants Approved For Temporary Canadian Visas

    Some Undocumented U.S. Migrants Approved For Temporary Canadian Visas
    Elidee Sanchez says her nightmares about her harrowing journey crossing the Mexico-U.S. border finally came to an end the day she arrived — legally — in Canada.

    Some Undocumented U.S. Migrants Approved For Temporary Canadian Visas

    Man Charged After Shots Fired In Apartment, Damaging Neighbouring Suites

    Man Charged After Shots Fired In Apartment, Damaging Neighbouring Suites
    OLIVER, B.C. — Police say a man has been charged after shots were fired in an apartment, causing damage to several neighbouring suites.

    Man Charged After Shots Fired In Apartment, Damaging Neighbouring Suites

    Cabinet Shuffle Coming On Monday After Brison Quits, Trudeau Says

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will shuffle his cabinet Monday to deal with the resignation of Treasury Board President Scott Brison.

    Cabinet Shuffle Coming On Monday After Brison Quits, Trudeau Says

    Prime Minister Pleased Tensions Are Easing At Site Of B.C. Pipeline Protest

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says arrests at a blockade this week shows the government needs to properly engage with Indigenous Peoples and build a different relationship than it has had in the past.

    Prime Minister Pleased Tensions Are Easing At Site Of B.C. Pipeline Protest

    Jagmeet Singh Gets His Chance For A Seat As Trudeau Calls Three Feb. 25 Byelections

    The relevance of the NDP in an election year will be put to the test next month in federal byelections called Wednesday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.  

    Jagmeet Singh Gets His Chance For A Seat As Trudeau Calls Three Feb. 25 Byelections

    'You're A Liar': Indigenous People Voice Anger At Justin Trudeau Town Hall In B.C.

    'You're A Liar': Indigenous People Voice Anger At Justin Trudeau Town Hall In B.C.
    You're a liar and a weak leader. What do you tell your children?"

    'You're A Liar': Indigenous People Voice Anger At Justin Trudeau Town Hall In B.C.