Police at fault in Metropolis election night shooting, Quebec Superior Court rules | 24CA News
Montreal police and the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) have been ordered to pay about $292,000 in damages to 4 stage technicians who survived Métropolis election evening taking pictures.
In what is taken into account a political assault, lone gunman Richard Henry Bain entered the venue on Sept. 4, 2012, killed a stage technician and critically wounded one other outdoors the venue the place the previous Parti Québécois (PQ) chief Pauline Marois gave her victory speech.
The 4 technicians, who had been associates and colleagues of the victims, sued for damages, claiming they proceed to expertise trauma after witnessing the taking pictures and dying of a colleague.
One plaintiff mentioned she was shocked to see the dearth of police in the back of the venue when she clocked in for her shift.
Quebec Superior Court Judge Philippe Bélanger additionally criticized the safety plan across the Métropolis theatre that evening.
Bélanger mentioned in his Nov. 30 ruling that although he did not query the “good faith” of police that evening, “poor alignment of police forces in the implementation of their security plan” allowed for the gunman to entry the location.
He mentioned, given the tense political local weather on the time, a fringe ought to have been arrange behind the theatre, however “the two police forces together failed in their duty to protect the public.”
Proper safety would have prevented the dying, accidents and trauma, mentioned Bélanger.
The choose has awarded all 4 $72,800 in damages. The plaintiffs had initially requested for $120,000.
The SQ refused to touch upon the ruling.
PQ addresses ruling
The PQ’s three MNAs addressed the ruling on the National Assembly Friday morning, saying they had been happy with the end result.
“I think the judge’s decision is the right one … and I hope the police won’t appeal it because [the victims] have been through enough trauma,” mentioned Joël Arseneau.
“To turn the page on this event we have to accept the judgment. The police will have to swallow that pill.”
Pascal Bérubé, who was campaigning with the PQ on the time, mentioned he nonetheless remembers that evening effectively and was nervous to see Québec Solidaire host their election evening celebration on the similar venue.
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, nonetheless, careworn the SQ has made “significant improvements” within the final ten years, particularly on the marketing campaign path.
“If they tried to hide certain aspects of what happened at Métropolis, that’s unacceptable,” he mentioned.
“But has the situation evolved in terms of how things function? In all likelihood, yes, and we’ve seen it.”
Former PQ MNA and present training minister with Coalition Avenir Québec Bernard Drainville was at Métropolis that election evening along with his household. He mentioned he was not stunned by the court docket’s findings.
“Ever since it happened we asked how could this guy get so close to the new premier and all the people gathered?” he mentioned.
“It was a close one, that night. I hope the police learned its lesson that night so it never happens again.”
