Quebec prison helicopter escape: no trial as more accused plead guilty

SAINT-JEROME, – There will be no criminal trial in the case involving a dramatic helicopter escape from a prison north of Montreal in 2013.

Two of the six accused pleaded guilty Monday, becoming the last to do so.

Benjamin Hudon-Barbeau entered a guilty plea to various charges, including hijacking a helicopter, escaping from prison, breaking and entering, and theft.

The other person to enter a guilty plea Monday was Billi Beaudoin, who was not part of the elaborate strategy and was recruited the day before the escape.

Beaudoin and Steven Mathieu Marchisio hired a helicopter on March 17, 2013, and then ordered the pilot at gunpoint to head to the Saint-Jerome detention centre.

After the chopper landed in the prison yard, Hudon-Barbeau and Dany Provencal clambered up a rope and into the helicopter.

The four men eventually made off in a car that was waiting for them.

Marchisio pleaded guilty last June and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Provencal was given an additional seven years after pleading guilty in November.

Vincent and Samuel Barbeau also pleaded guilty last fall.