The sentence of two years less a day in prison imposed on André Boisclair, who pleaded guilty in two cases of sexual assault, is appropriate, according to a criminal lawyer.
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“If he had been found guilty following a trial, the sentence would have been more severe, but here, we avoid holding a trial, we avoid bringing in the victims to testify and ultimately, two years less one day, it is a sentence which is still severe, ”supports Me Walid Hijazi, in an interview with LCN.
André Boisclair’s guilty plea played a role in determining his sentence.
“Pleading guilty is the first step in rehabilitation. We admitted our fault, we admit the constituent elements of the offence, so in this case, as in all cases, it weighs heavily in the balance when it comes time to assess the aggravating factors and the mitigating factors, ”explains the lawyer.
This sentence also shows that André Boisclair’s status as a politician and Québec delegate in New York did not protect him.
“We are all equal before the law. […] In the end, there is a resolution anyway where the lawyers have worked hard and where the court recognizes this work and endorses a suggestion which is individual and proportional according to the situation, ”he says.
Watch the full interview in the video above.
