Quebec City stabbing suspect makes virtual court appearance from jail infirmary

QUEBEC – The man accused in the Quebec City Halloween night stabbing attack that killed two people appeared in court today via video conference from the infirmary of his detention centre.

No reason was offered in court to explain why Carl Girouard, 25, was in the infirmary of the Quebec City jail.

Girouard, from Ste-Thérèse, Que., is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder after a man dressed in a medieval costume and wielding a Japanese-style sword went on a rampage last Oct. 31 in Quebec City’s historic district.

Two residents, 56-year-old Francois Duchesne and 61-year-old Suzanne Clermont, were killed, and five others were seriously injured.

Girouard’s lawyer, Pierre Gagnon, told the court today he needs more time to review the evidence against his client.

The case is scheduled to return to court in Quebec City on June 18.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2021.