A policeman could go to jail

The agent of the Sûreté du Québec caused the death of a child during a spinning by striking the vehicle of the father

Police officer Patrick Ouellet, photographed upon his arrival at the Longueuil courthouse on Monday, will have to wait another month before knowing whether he will be sentenced to eight months in prison for causing the death of Nicholas Thorne-Belance.

"No police mission is worth the loss of a human life," said an officer of the Sûreté du Québec, who is now facing jail for causing the death of a five-year-old child during a spinning.

In speaking these words, the policeman Patrick Ouellet turned to the family of little Nicholas Thorne-Belance, imploring them to accept his most sincere condolences.

In the courtroom of the Longueuil courthouse, everyone had tears in their eyes.

Both the toddler's family and the Sûreté du Québec's (SQ) officer's guilty of deadly dangerous driving mourned the loss of the child, described as a "shooting star" with contagious laughter.

The parties were back in court Monday to suggest to Judge Éric Simard to impose an eight-month prison sentence on the 34-year-old, as well as a one-year driving ban.

"Not a single day goes by without me thinking that I would like to change the course of this February day, because it remains so sad and painful. [...] I will carry this sentence with me forever, "said Ouellet, who became the father of two daughters during the court process.

UPAC

On February 13, 2014, the police officer participated in a spin-off on behalf of the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC). The target, the former general manager of the Quebec Liberal Party Robert Parent, had left his home in the South Shore earlier than expected.

To try to catch up with him, the SQ agent was traveling at 134 km / h in a residential area of ​​Longueuil, where the limit is set at 50 km / h.

At approximately 0750, he hit Mike Jude Belance's car, which was turning left to take his son to the daycare.

His 13-year-old daughter-in-law, Dalia Thorne-Joseph, was also in the vehicle.

"More than a brother"

"For me, Nicholas was more than just a brother. Even with a big difference of eight years old, we were very close and we had this link brother-sister impossible to break, at least I thought, "testified Monday the young woman now 18 years old.

The 5-year-old boy succumbed to his severe head injuries a few days after the collision.

"It was a complete nightmare for me. No mother should have to bury her son at such a young age, "tears Stephanie Thorne told the court.

Accused in May 2015 of dangerous driving causing death, Ouellet was convicted last summer. He will be automatically dismissed from the Sûreté du Québec, unless the Court of Appeal reverses the verdict later.

For now, the 34-year-old is reorienting his career by taking a course to become a refrigerationist.

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► Patrick Ouellet will be sentenced in November.

WHAT THEY SAID

"All I remember is kneeling [to my son] and whispering to him," Mom is there, Nikki, I love you baby, I need you to be strong for mom. You are going to make it." "

• Stéphanie Thorne, mother of Nicholas Thorne-Belance

"For me, Nicholas is and will always be more than a part of my story. He is the light and I will fight to keep it when times are hard. "

• Dalia Thorne-Joseph, elder sister of Nicholas Thorne-Belance

"This day, which has haunted my life for more than four and a half years, has called into question my values ​​and the meaning of life. "

• Patrick Ouellet, policeman guilty of dangerous driving

"We prayed every night, when the little one was in critical condition, so that his life would be spared. How to find meaning to such a tragedy? "

• Laurence Cervant, wife of Patrick Ouellet, in a letter read at the court