Steve Lévesque testifies at his 2nd degree murder trial


Steve Lévesque first recounted his years spent selling cannabis, particularly in the United States where he said he served a five-year prison sentence for drug trafficking and illegal entry.

He continued his story by explaining that he started selling cocaine when he returned to Quebec, in the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts area. The accused then indicated that Maxime Labrie would have worked for him and that they would have quickly become friends.

According to the testimony of Steve Lévesque, the victim, Maxime Dugas-Lepage, a few months before his death, would have started selling a few ounces of cocaine per week for Maxime Labrie.

Self-portrait of Maxime Dugas-Lepage.

The victim, Maxime Dugas-Lepage

Photo: Facebook

Steve Lévesque indicated that on the evening of the alleged murder, January 20, 2020, he and his brother Carl would have joined Maxime Labrie at Mario Lafontaine’s in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.

Maxime Dugas-Lepage would have arrived about an hour later and would have sat down at the table where Maxime Labrie and the accused were already.

After a discussion that would have quickly escalated, Steve Lévesque explained to the court that Maxime Dugas-Lepage would have taken out a weapon of the pistol or revolver type and would have pointed it at him.

Steve Lévesque then jumped up to grab Maxime Dugas-Lepage’s arm. The two men reportedly fell backwards and the shot was fired as they hit the ground. The projectile hit the victim in the head.

A general view of the dining room of Mario Lafontaine's home.

According to the testimony of Steve Lévesque, Maxime Labrie, Maxime Dugas-Lepage and he were seated at the table when the conversation turned sour. The accused explained that Carl Lévesque was standing in the kitchen and that Mario Lafontaine was sitting in the living room.

Photo: Sûreté du Québec

Steve Lévesque then explained that they would have gone to his brother Carl to get a blanket, paper towels and cleaning products. They would then have returned to Mario Lafontaine.

It was at this time that the accused indicated that he and Maxime Labrie would have wrapped the victim’s body in a blanket before placing it in Steve Lévesque’s vehicle with the help of Carl Lévesque.

According to the accused, Carl Lévesque and Mario Lafontaine wiped up most of the blood using paper towels which they threw in a garbage bag.

Steve Lévesque would have placed this bag in the trunk of his vehicle. He would then have recovered the weapon on the floor. The accused specified that he would have hidden it in a compartment located behind the driver’s bench in his vehicle.

Still calm, Steve Lévesque continued his testimony by saying that the four men left Sainte-Anne-des-Monts for Rimouski in two vehicles.

Mario Lafontaine would have taken the wheel of his Dodge Journey vehicle and the accused and would have taken the passenger seat.

Also according to the testimony of the accused, Carl Lévesque and Maxime Labrie would have boarded the white Mercedes vehicle with which the victim would have gone to Mario Lafontaine.

The open trunk of the vehicle.

Reddish stains were noted by the police in the trunk of the Dodge Journey used by Steve Lévesque in January 2020.

Photo: Sûreté du Québec

Steve Lévesque clarified in court that he did not call the police after the drama since he did not want to go back to prison knowing that he was surrounded by drug trafficking.

He mentioned that he felt the urgency to run away from both the police and the matane gang since, according to him, Maxime Dugas-Lepage had worked for the group for some time and that the members of the gang would be affiliated with outlaw bikers.

Defense lawyer Pierre L’Écuyer told the jurors that he would try to convince them that his client had no intention of killing Maxime Dugas-Lepage by basing his evidence on the concept of self-defense.

Mario Lafontaine would have received nothing in exchange for his testimony

Maître L’Écuyer called two Sûreté du Québec investigators to the witness box on Tuesday morning.

The two witnesses were questioned about their meeting with Mario Lafontaine, the man in whom the murder is said to have been committed.

In cross-examination, the attorney for the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, Jérôme Simard, asked investigator Steve Girard if Mario Lafontaine received any benefit in exchange for his testimony.

Investigator Girard answered no. He also explained that Mario Lafontaine was not accused in connection with this case since the only evidence against him is formed from his own statements made to the police.

Mario Lafontaine was the 10th witness for the Crown and testified earlier in this trial. He notably admitted having helped clean up the scene and having driven Steve Lévesque’s vehicle, in which the body of the victim was placed, from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to Rimouski.

This witness also told the court that he saw the accused shoot the victim at his home.

Maxime Labrie and Carl Lévesque, who were allegedly at Mr. Lafontaine’s home at the time of the alleged murder, were each charged with complicity after the fact.

Steve Lévesque’s testimony is scheduled to continue Wednesday morning. The criminal and penal prosecuting attorney should cross-examine the accused in the afternoon.

Steve Lévesque’s trial is in its 14th day.



Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca

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