The cause of the motorist who caused the death of a motorcyclist while trying to save the life of ducks is not an isolated one: in 2014, a young woman was convicted of a similar crime.
• Also read: Accused wanted to avoid ducks: accident or crime?
• Also read: He kills a motorcyclist by running over ducks: the defendant says he accidentally went in the opposite direction
The jury responsible for judging Éric Rondeau, accused of causing the death of Félix-Antoine Gagné by driving his van around ducks, has been in isolation since Tuesday afternoon.
The 47-year-old man is charged after a violent collision on July 22, 2019 in Sainte-Élisabeth in Lanaudière.
His trial, which began earlier this month at the Joliette courthouse, brought back memories for many of another ink-spilled case.
On June 27, 2010, Emma Czornobaj pulled into the left lane in the middle of Highway 30 to rescue baby ducks circling on the road. The young woman, then 22 years old, wanted to take her home with her.
A motorcyclist following her then drove straight towards her vehicle without noticing the obstacle in her lane. André Roy, 50, died, as did his 16-year-old daughter Jessie, who was driving behind him. This collision happened in front of the victim’s wife and mother, who followed them on their own motorcycle in the right lane.
“To my knowledge, this is the second case in Quebec involving ducks. The first was the so-called duck girl. It stimulated the imagination. We have a natural sympathy for animals,” Éric Rondeau’s attorney said Monday during his argument.
Me Richard Dubé was quick to explain the circumstances of the collision caused by Emma Czornoball, without recalling that the young woman had been found guilty at the time, in addition to a 10-year prison sentence and a 10-year driving ban.
The defense attorney used this case as an example to demonstrate to the jury that his client, unlike Ms. Czornobaj, had been “cautious”.
“But what she was doing there was extremely dangerous. Stopping in the left lane on the freeway is not okay. If Mr. Rondeau went to the other side to avoid the ducks, it wouldn’t work,” he pleaded.
In fact, his client came to tell the jury that he “accidentally” crossed the motorcyclist’s way. According to him, the collision was an accident.
The Crown, represented by Me Alexandre Dubois and Jade Coderre, is more of the opinion that the man committed a dangerous maneuver that resulted in the death of the victim, Félix-Antoine Gagné.
Furthermore, just like Emma Czornobaj at his trial, Éric Rondeau tried to blame the deceased motorcyclist by insisting on the speed at which he was driving just seconds before the tragedy.
However, Mr Rondeau showed more empathy than the young woman, who said she stopped where she felt there was no risk. According to her, the motorcyclist should have seen her outside her vehicle chasing the baby ducks and so should have avoided her.
- The jury in Eric Rondeau’s trial has just begun its deliberations. The jury must unanimously agree whether the defendant’s actions posed a danger to the public and whether his conduct “significantly” contributed to the victim’s death.
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