Slain teen Lucas Gaudet ‘wasn’t on the centre of the battle,’ says prosecutor

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Lucas Gaudet and his 16-year-old assailant weren’t concerned within the authentic dispute that led to his deadly stabbing in Pointe-Claire in February.

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However agreeing to take part in a deliberate fist combat between feuding teenagers exterior St. Thomas Excessive College led to tragedy for each younger males.

Gaudet, 16, died two days after being stabbed within the again whereas fleeing the brawl.

His attacker, who took a knife to the combat, pleaded responsible final week to second-degree homicide and can spend the subsequent 34 months in a youth detention facility.

The day earlier than the combat, the 16-year-old mentioned the upcoming confrontation whereas using the varsity bus, Crown prosecutor Annie Barbeau mentioned in an interview with the Montreal Gazette.

The following day, seven youths from John Rennie and Horizon excessive colleges confirmed up exterior St. Thomas all wearing black. Gaudet was with them.

“He was there to help his associates … and wasn’t on the centre of the battle,” Barbeau mentioned, including that not one of the seven carried weapons.

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A few the John Rennie college students had been challenged to a fist combat after they chastised two from St. Thomas for intimidating a John Rennie scholar whereas he was visiting their faculty the earlier week, based on a press release of details offered throughout final week’s sentencing listening to.

When the seven youths arrived at St. Thomas, the 16-year-old and one in every of his associates have been ready for them.

The 16-year-old was punched within the face and “fell to the bottom in a dazed state,” Barbeau mentioned.

As he bought to his toes, he noticed about 4 teenagers kicking his pal who was on the bottom. The footage was extensively shared on social media within the days after the combat.

The 16-year-old lunged at one of many youths with a knife and stabbed him within the chest. He then chased a fleeing Gaudet about 4 metres and stabbed him within the again, inflicting severe injury to his left lung and blood vessels.

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As Gaudet cried out for assist and civilians rushed to his facet, the 16-year-old boarded his faculty bus, parked near the scene.

“He was bleeding from his nostril” after being punched, Barbeau mentioned.

Police arrested the 16-year-old a couple of hours later, however by no means recovered the knife.

After the teenager agreed to plead responsible to second-degree homicide and aggravated assault, Barbeau and the defence lawyer agreed on a five-year sentence. The teenager will serve nearly three years in a detention centre adopted by nearly two years locally, underneath strict supervision.  He can’t be recognized as a result of he’s a minor.

Throughout his detention, he’ll attend faculty with different younger offenders and take part in packages about anger administration and empathy coaching.

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Gaudet’s mom informed the Gazette on Tuesday that the sentence was not lengthy sufficient, however mentioned she has to simply accept it.  The utmost sentence her son’s assailant may have acquired was seven years.

“No period of time will ever be sufficient,” Lynne Baudouy mentioned.

She mentioned she hopes the youth understands the severity of his crime.

“I believe he does, as a result of that’s one of many issues I mentioned in my sufferer affect assertion (in courtroom). I actually want he turns into a mother or father so he can perceive a sliver of the ache we went by.”

When deciding on an appropriate sentence, prosecutors in youth courtroom have to think about the general public’s security, the rehabilitation of the offender and his reintegration into society, Barbeau mentioned.

By pleading responsible on the first alternative, the 16-year-old has taken duty for his actions and prevented an extended and troublesome trial for everybody, she mentioned.

The tragic consequence of the brawl ought to function a warning to teenagers in regards to the hazard of carrying a knife.

“Don’t convey a knife to high school,” Barbeau mentioned.

“Adolescents typically say they carry a knife to guard themselves. It’s very harmful. It will possibly (find yourself being) them who commits an irreversible act.”