Trial Commences for Suspect in Amqui Truck Assault Case
Headline: Steeve Gagnon's Truck Attack Trial Kicks Off in Quebec
A long-awaited trial for Steeve Gagnon, accused of mowing down a dozen individuals in Amqui, Quebec, started Thursday morning. The jury selection, ongoing for two days, is set to conclude on Friday.
Two years ago, myriad potential jurors assembled at the Rimouski courthouse, ready to judge the man behind the devastating truck rampage on March 2023. The incident took place on the bustling Boulevard Saint-Benoît in the quaint municipality of Amqui, located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.
Tragedy struck on that fateful day as Gérald Charest, 65, and Jean Lafrenière, 73, lost their lives. A third victim, Simon-Guillaume Bourget, 41, succumbed to his injuries a few days after the incident. Eight other pedestrians, including two children, were left injured.
Gagnon, now 41, confronts five charges: three for first-degree murder and two for attempting to kill using a motor vehicle. Present in court on Thursday, Gagnon is represented by M. Hugo Caissy, from legal aid.
On Friday, the Crown will lay out its opening argument to the jury, illustrating its case theory and the evidence to be presented. Witnesses may take the stand as early as the following day.
This eight-week-long trial before Judge Louis Dionne of the Superior Court may proceed more swiftly if the defense and the Crown can agree on certain facts.
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Footnotes:
[1] Local News Article "Truck Attack Trial Begins in Rimouski," May 15, 2025.
[2] CBC News "Quebec's New Rent Calculation Disadvantages Tenants, Documents Show," May 15, 2025.
[3] Montreal Gazette "Michelin Guide Reveals First Starred Restaurants in Quebec," May 15, 2025.
- The 'political' dimensions of the ongoing Steeve Gagnon trial, centering around a 2023 truck attack in Quebec, are dominating 'general news', with the trial's proceedings held in the Superior Court and the defense and Crown working towards a swift resolution.
- Despite the prevalence of 'crime-and-justice' headlines, another significant 'news' topic in Quebec is the controversy surrounding the recent changes in the rent calculation method, with critics alleging that it favors landlords.
