The police “seriously underestimated the level of dangerousness” of the accused Kim Lebel, according to his parents, who had requested the help of the police to transport him to a psychiatric center a few hours before the murder.
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The family’s representative, lawyer Marc Bellemare, sent a letter to the Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, asking her to order the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) to shed light on the events.
“It seems clear to us here that the police officers of the SPVQ, at different stages in history, have seriously underestimated the level of dangerousness of Kim Lebel. Our customers have not been heard or taken seriously with the consequences that we know”, can we read in the request.
Ask for help
On April 4, the parents reportedly saw “worrying” signs in their son’s behavior. Two police officers would even have gone to Kim Lebel, who has “mental health problems since adolescence”. On Wednesday April 6, Judge Dominic Roux, at the Quebec courthouse, finally ordered his psychiatric examination.
Still according to Mand Bellemare, the parents went to the police station at noon the same day to demand the execution of this order, so that their son be transported “as a matter of urgency” to a specialized center.
“Despite the insistence of the parents, they were told that a team would take care of intervening and we obviously paid little attention to the urgency of the case,” writes the lawyer.
A few hours later, the victim was fatally attacked. The family believes the murder could have been avoided.
EIB intervention
“It’s a scandal and it’s unforgivable. The police knew he was dangerous. Their conduct is very questionable and the BEI exists for this type of file,” said Mr.and Bellemare when joined by The newspaper.
According to him, it was the father himself who overpowered his son while waiting for police officers from the Quénec City Police Service (SPVQ). “He saw his son straddling the guy. It was his father who crushed him with his chariot and overpowered him. It’s not jokes! »
The family now refuses to allow the SPVQ to conduct an investigation “where its own carelessness is in question. An official request was therefore sent to Minister Guilbault. For the moment, it is not a lawsuit or a formal notice.
The SPVQ will not comment.
Reference-www.journaldequebec.com