The hearing of preliminary motions in the Marc-André Grenon case continued Monday morning with the presentation of a motion for a stay that, if granted, would free the man of the charges against him for the murder of a student of the Cégep de Jonquière. in 2000.
Preliminary motions for the long-awaited trial are scheduled for this week at the Chicoutimi courthouse.
As the trial will be before a jury, its contents are currently subject to a publication ban.
Therefore, the reasons given by the defense to request the suspension of the procedure cannot be presented. However, in the event of a positive decision by Judge François Huot at the request of the defense, Marc-André Grenon would be free of the serious charges of premeditated murder and sexual assault against him.
Let us remember that the man is accused of the murder of Guylaine Potvin, violently murdered after being sexually assaulted in her home in Jonquière in April 2000.
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Other queries
In case the judge refuses to order the suspension of the procedure, the defense also presents a motion this week to exclude evidence.
This request is also subject to a publication ban to avoid contamination of a future jury.
Judge Huot will also have to resolve shortly a first request from the defense, presented some time ago. The request aims for the hearing of the process to be moved to another district other than Chicoutimi, possibly to Quebec.
According to the defense lawyer, M.my Karine Poliquin and Marc-André Grenon were unable to benefit from a fair and equitable trial at the scene of Guylaine Potvin’s murder due to extensive media coverage of the case. According to the defense, this fact could complicate the formation of an impartial jury.
Judge Huot had indicated that he would make his decision on the change of venue at the end of the preliminary motions hearing.
Possible trial in January
Marc-André Grenon’s premeditated murder trial could begin in January 2024 if he remains in Chicoutimi.
Let us remember that it was new investigation techniques, linked in particular to genealogy, that allowed the man to be arrested for a crime that dates back more than 20 years.
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Grenon is also accused of attempted murder and sexual assault of another student, this time from Quebec. The alleged events occurred just a few months after the death of Guylaine Potvin.
