Quebec student ordered released after two weeks in detention

MONTREAL – A Quebec university student who has been detained for two weeks on various charges in connection with the disruption of university classes was ordered released on bail Friday.

Municipal court Judge Sylvie Girard granted Hamza Babou his freedom on conditions imposed by a Quebec Superior Court justice Thursday.

He was arrested April 15 amid protests at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal against an injunction that prevented students from disrupting classes.

Babou, 23, was denied bail by a municipal judge two days later but the Superior Court justice overturned that ruling, saying the lower-court judge erred in law.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include assault, uttering threats and assault with a weapon, with his lawyer saying the latter charge is related to an aerosol can that contained so-called “silly string.”

An additional assault charge was added Friday, bringing the total number of charges he faces to 15.

His release was finalized after the extra charge had been formally laid.

Babou acknowledged supporters as he was led from the courtroom and he was expected to be released from a Montreal detention centre sometime later Friday.

The case returns before municipal court on June 4.