Mareck Dupuis' file is now in the hands of judge Jean Asselin who will take the time to analyze the arguments of both parties to make a decision, which he considers difficult on March 22.

"I have been sitting for nine years and it's probably the most difficult worth I would have to make, it requires reflection.I know that the legal procedures are long and I am sorry, but I have to weigh the elements and try to make the bare most just and the most appropriate for the circumstances, "he said at the end ofAfternoon, after a day of testimonies.

Recall that Mareck Dupuis was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing lesions following the accident on January 16, 2018 at the intersection of the 118th street and Boulevard Lacroix, in Saint-Georges.Anne-Sophie Veilleux died during the accident and Laurie Pelletier was seriously injured.

Witnesses at the helm, emotions were strong today at the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce courthouse, while five witnesses and the accused came at the helm in this case.

It was the witnesses of the crown who spoke first.

Present virtually, Laurie Pelletier was the best friend of Anne-Sophie Veilleux.That day, they went together to Cégep to change their schedules and have more joint courses.In her testimony, the 22 -year -old girl confides in not remembering to have seen the truck, but simply to wake up on the scene of the accident and then to the hospital.Passenger of the damaged car, she suffered significant injuries that required almost a year of medical follow -up.With a heavy heart and with a lot of strength, she told her version of the facts and the emotions she went through in this ordeal.

Subsequently, the mother of the victim, Manon Mathieu, spoke to tell her story, from the day of the event to today.She testified with emotions that she had experienced very difficult moments and no longer being the manon she was.Very close to her daughter, she was a smiling and always happy woman in her own words.

On the defense side, it was Mareck Dupuis, his sister, a family friend, her mother and psychologist who expressed their feelings.

Defense lawyer, Me Bertrand, questioned his client about his family life, his school career, his psychological follow -up and his professional activities.Subsequently, the latter read a letter addressing the judge in which he apologizes for the act he happened.He said he had prayed a lot for Anne-Sophie, Laurie and their families.He also said that being a truck driver was a child's dream for him, but that he no longer wanted to do this job now.

The other witnesses presented the accused as a person of trust, introverted, generous."He's a quiet, calm boy in his place.I do not know many young people of her age who are so working, "said Nathalie Lauzon, a friend close to the family who has a child of the same age.

For her part, Nathalie Vachon felt heavy emotions also when he appeared at the helm.She declared how much her son felt guilty in this case, which he prayed a lot and that it was very hard for him psychologically.

Finally, her psychotherapist said he had around fifty games with Mareck Dupuis since April 2019 when she started to follow him.The goal is to lower your guilt and anxiety.According to her, the accused is filled with sadness "the word sadness is not strong enough, rather distress".She finished saying that Mareck is not able to drive a truck, but that he would be for a car.

Party pleadings following several hours of testimonies came for the time of the pleadings of each of the parties.

First, the prosecutor Me Annik Harbor made a summary of what was said earlier to first highlight some attenuating factors for the accusation.Among these we find family support, the rather correct conduct file, the expression of remorse, diligent psychological follow-up as well as a difficult childhood.She also noted that there were no drugs or alcohol involved in the event.

However, with regard to aggravating factors, the crown recalled that he is a professional driver, so he was trained to drive heavy vehicles.What's more, he made a driving error earlier in the same day and did not undertake to take a break or take time to pull himself together.Finally, he also failed in several road safety rules at the time of the accident since he was driving at a speed higher than that authorized, he did not adapt his driving to the weather conditions and burned a red light.

To support her sentence recommendation, she presented several files similar to the Court and the judgments that have been fixed.But Harbor said that "on one side as on the other, it is a drama.You have to consider everything.»»

His recommendation is therefore a sentence of 18 months' imprisonment as well as three years of conditions under conditions, in particular not to communicate with the families of the victims or with Laurie Pelletier.To this could be added a prohibition to drive for two or three years after its detention.

Subsequently, Me Bertrand, representative of Mareck Dupuis, made his pleading in turn.Like the judge and the prosecutor, he underlined the difficulty of this trial."I agree with my colleague that it is an incredible human drama.In 31 years of practice, this is one of the sentence hearings I have found the most difficult.»»

The latter essentially based his pleading on a flaw in the psychological follow -up plan that with Mareck Dupuis at the time of the facts.He also returned to the psychological problems of his client who play on his responsibility.

He asked the judge to have a deterrent effect of the legal proceedings which, in this case, began the day after the accident when Mareck was arrested by the police.“If I am not mistaken, since January 19, 2018 Mareck has lived with the sword of the judicial process and it marks.»Authorities with whom he collaborated very well.

The defense also recalled some extenuating circumstances, in particular that the accused drinks very little alcohol, that he does not consume drugs, that he is close to his family and that he takes care of his nephews andnieces.

His proposal as a sentence therefore does not understand a prison sentence, believing that the recurrence rate is extremely low, "even non -existent", especially since he is always psychologically followed and that he does not want to drive again.

"The trouble is not a means of comfort, it does not compensate for the sorrow and the pain of the affected people," he added.

Like his sister, he presented other similar files and their judgments to justify his proposal.

Thus the latter believes that the conditions of probation could be as follows:

To this he specifies that the judge can demand a fine if he considers that it is not enough.Thus, the lawyer suggests a probation as well as a fine of $ 2,000 which would be added to the conditions of probation mentioned above.

"In a very subsidiary way, it would be a 90-day discontinuous sentence to purge weekends, but again with probation and the same conditions," he finished.

Before closing the session, the judge asked the defense if his client would be willing to do community service and if he could donate to an association that helps victims.The lawyer replied yes in both cases.

The decision of judge Jean Asselin will be rendered on March 22 at the Saint-Joseph courthouse.