Patrick Houle’s trial for criminal negligence causing injury began on Monday in Sherbrooke.
The owner of five Great Danes faces two charges for events that allegedly occurred on August 31, 2021 in Val-des-Sources. The dogs apparently escaped from the compound of the Magnesium Technologies Recycles company. They allegedly attacked three women who were walking along the bike path in the St-Barnabé sector. Two of them reportedly suffered minor injuries.
Micheline Beaulieu and Jacqueline Sévigny were bitten on the legs and arms. According to them, Patrick Houle, 59, left the door to his company premises open to allow his employees to enter. His guard dogs would have taken the opportunity to escape. This is what they explained in their testimony on Monday.
“It feels like our muscles are being torn, it hurts,” Micheline Beaulieu said to describe the effect of the stings. Destroyed my life. (…) I no longer have a job, I no longer have anything.”
During cross-examination, Patrick Houle’s lawyer asked him whether the accused had come to his aid and whether he had shown compassion.
“No, he told me his little things,” responded Micheline Beaulieu (…) That he had been robbed and that is why he has guard dogs (…). “I have physical injuries.”
Jacqueline Sévigny was also invited to testify. The complainant described the fear he experienced on August 31, 2021.
“I closed my eyes,” he said. (…) he was sure that he was going to die.”
The lady had to get stitches in her forearm. According to her, other complaints about these dogs have been filed in the city of Val-des-Sources.
The story of Dominique Alain, savagely attacked by dogs in Potton, in 2019 shocked all of Quebec. He wanted to accompany the complainants to support them.
Along with other dog attack victims, they spent the day at Sherbrooke court to support complainants, still reeling from the events two years later.
The prosecution is trying to prove that Patrick Houle committed criminal negligence. The trial continues until Thursday.
