Sherbrooke man pleads guilty to bar attack with iron bar

ASherbrooke man pleaded guilty Monday to armed aggravated assault after an attack with an iron bar at Bar Le Figaro in January 2016.

Sébastien Giguère pleaded guilty on Monday before Justice Claire Desgens of the Court of Quebec to the charge, despite insisting he has no memory of the incident.

Giguère was outside the Galt St. East drinking establishment when the complainant made a disparaging remark to Giguère and the woman he was dating at the time. Giguère went back into the bar before re-emerging and entering into a second altercation with the individual in question. Giguère then went to his vehicle and instead of opening the door, he opened the trunk and retrieved a metal bar.

He then struck "four or five" blows at the other man, inflicting numerous injuries on his face and head.

Giguère told two psychiatrists who evaluated him that he could not remember having struck the blows and says he remembers nothing from when he went to his vehicle and says he ‘woke up’ when the victim was on the ground.

It was through the testimony of witnesses that made it possible to reconstruct the evolution of events. The accused collaborated with police by going himself to the Sherbrooke Police headquarters before a 911 call was made and turned himself in before going to the psychiatric department of the CHUS where he stayed for six weeks.

A pre-sentence report taking into account the circumstances will be prepared.

Criminal Prosecutor Laïla Belgharras also informed the court that the victim wanted to be heard during the sentencing hearing scheduled for January 30.

The lawyers involved said they would not be submitting a joint recommendation.