A driver who hit a motorcyclist in front of his wife while he was using his cell phone after drinking alcohol has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
“The court considers this to be an appropriate sentence to meet the objectives of retribution and deterrence,” Judge Kathleen Gauthier began Friday as she announced the sentence of Frédéric Papillon at the Saint-Jérôme court.
The 51-year-old former trucker pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit and causing the death of Marcel Aubry on August 1, 2020.
Photo courtesy of Dignity Memorial
Victim Marcel Aubry
That day, the 52-year-old victim took advantage of a beautiful day to ride a motorcycle with his wife. Together they celebrated the feast of the latter on route 335 at Saint-Calixte in Lanadier.
Around 2:45 pm, Papillon was traveling in the opposite direction in a Mazda brand car when it crossed the opposite lane.
He did not survive the head-on collision with the motorcycle.
On the spot, the shocked driver repeated: “It was my fault. »
After drinking all night, Papillon had two more drinks before getting behind the wheel. Unsurprisingly, he failed the breathalyzer test.
Analysis of his cell phone showed he had participated in eight calls in the minutes before the impact.
According to sources, he was not using the “hands-free” system in his vehicle.
While tapping on the dashboard, he exchanged stories about his strained family relationships and his legal conflicts.
“Due to my excessive anger, I gripped the steering wheel badly,” Papillon admitted to a spokesman.
He admits the calls contributed to the accident and was a distraction, the judge said.
It underlines Papillon’s indolence, bravery and great recklessness.
Last month, in Drama, a former truck driver received two tickets for speeding.
The prosecution was pleased with the sentence, which is in the middle of decisions handed down in similar circumstances.
“This is a clear verdict, and we had to condemn this cruelty in Canada,” commented Me Juliette Gauthier-Soucy.
According to the Crown prosecutor, the victim’s wife was relieved that the file was over and felt satisfied.
In a letter to the court, Papillon said that Mr. He also claimed to have wasted the lives of Aubrey’s relatives.
Magistrate Gauthier said on his release from prison he will be banned from driving for 4 years “to protect the community”.
“Good luck, sir,” she greeted the nervous-looking man before leaving Friday’s room.
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