THE HAT | The scene is horrifying. In an outburst of unprecedented violence, an enraged snowmobiler delivered twenty punches, knees and kicks to the face of the co-owner of a hotel in barely three minutes.
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Sylvie Lachapelle has no memory of what happened on the night of January 2 to 3, 2020, at the bar of the Central de Parent hotel, in Haute-Mauricie.
Courtesy picture
CCTV footage shows the suspect kicking the victim while she is on the ground.
But the aftermath of the assault she suffered still haunts her daily life almost three years later, to the point where she can no longer work.
The 56-year-old needed facial reconstruction, she lost vision in her left eye and takes between 15 and 20 tablets a day to help with her infernal headaches.
Courtesy pictures
Sylvie Lachapelle before and after the attack.
“I’ve been a prosecutor for 10 years, I’ve watched the video 20 times and I still have chills. […] It is the most odious thing that has been given to me to watch in my life, ”dropped Me Éric Thériault, of the Crown, on Monday at the trial of Patrice St-Amand, which is taking place at the courthouse in La Beanie.
Aggressive behaviour
The 44-year-old man is charged with attempted murder of the co-owner of the establishment, assault and threats against a waitress and a man who accompanied her.
Screenshot, TVA Nouvelles
The accused, Patrice St-Amand.
Subsequently, St-Amand would also have broken into a chalet, set fire to another and fled the police on a snowmobile.
Earlier in the evening, the accused had been expelled from a first refuge for snowmobilers, because of his aggressive behavior, explained the Crown.
Her attitude didn’t improve once at the Central Hotel, as the waitress had to call her boss for backup around 1:15 a.m.
Customers at risk
Upon her arrival, Sylvie Lachapelle tried to calm St-Amand, who was having a heated discussion with her employee. “He was causing trouble, he was threatening customers,” she described.
Uncontrollably, the suspect smashed a beer on the counter and struck a violent punch in the face of the lady, who fell to the ground. The scene was captured by the bar’s surveillance cameras.
Courtesy picture
Eric Theriault. Crown attorney
According to the chilling images that were projected in the courtroom, St-Amand went after the victim, kicking him.
Ms. Lachapelle tried to get up twice, but she was immediately sent back to the floor, first with a knee strike, then a punch. The landlady was completely inert under the bar.
Still according to the images, St-Amand then took the time to put on his coat, then his helmet, before returning to hit the victim with all his might with his big snowmobile boots.
In total, the victim received 21 blows.
Questioned by the accused
The lady showed great strength on Monday by testifying against her alleged attacker, from whom she was separated only by a screen. Especially since, as St-Amand defends himself alone, he was able to question her during the cross-examination.
Earlier in the day, the accused had tried to have his case postponed for the umpteenth time to find a new lawyer, but Judge Simon Ricard refused.
The trial continues on Tuesday.