Mosque killer’s sentencing hearing in June

Arguments on sentencing for convicted murderer Alexandre Bissonnette will begin June 18.

Bissonnette pleaded guilty in March to six counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder in the attack on a Quebec City mosque in January 2017.

On Monday, Superior Court Justice François Huot told lawyers in the case that constitutional arguments on the possibility of consecutive sentences being rendered in the case will be heard at the same date. The judge has reserved at least three says — June 18-20 — to hear arguments.

Since the Criminal Code was amended in 2011 to allow a judge to impose consecutive rather than concurrent sentences for multiple murders, Bissonnette could face as many as 150 years in prison before being considered for parole.

On Monday, defence lawyer Charles-Olivier Gosselin told the court such an imprisonment would be “excessively disproportionate” and contravene the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The defence also asked that Bissonnette be quickly transferred to a federal penitentiary, since his stay at the Quebec City jail is becoming difficult. Gosselin noted that Bissonnette is under constant video surveillance, assigned anti- suicide clothing and bed sheets and is awakened at regular intervals to ensure he’s still alive.

He also said his client wants to speak to counsellors for help “because it isn’t always easy.”

Huot said the request would require some consideration and that he “strongly ” doubted any therapy could begin for Bissonnette before he knew his sentence, scheduled to be handed down in September.

Wounded worshippers and family members of those killed sent a letter Monday to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressing dismay that the Liberal government’s firearms bill does not ban assault rifles like the one carried by Bissonnette.

Bissonnette began his rampage with a .223-calibre Small Arms VZ58 Sporter rifle, which is legal, along with two illegal 30-cartridge magazines.

When the rifle jammed on the first shot, he turned to a handgun and five 10-bullet magazines.

“What kind of society allows a single individual to have so much destructive, lethal power at their disposal?” the letter says.

The federal bill introduced in March would expand the scope of background checks, extending the scope of personal history questions from the past five years to a person’s entire lifetime.

Retailers would also be required to keep records of firearms inventory and sales.

Presse Canadienne