Supreme Court to rule on case of man who killed Quebec political aide

OTTAWA – Canada’s highest court will decide today if it will hear the case of a man convicted of murdering the aide to a Quebec cabinet minister.

Francis Proulx was found guilty in 2009 of murdering Nancy Michaud, who worked for Claude Bechard, a member of then-premier Jean Charest’s cabinet.

Proulx has acknowledged his 2008 crime but argues he should not be held criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.

The court is being asked to overturn the conviction and grant Proulx a new trial.

Proulx entered Michaud’s house in Riviere-Ouelle, in the lower St. Lawrence region, and took her hostage while her two children slept.

He also took credit cards and personal identification numbers and, shortly afterward, shot her in the head.

Before disposing of the victim, he had sex with her corpse.

During his trial, he argued he was not criminally responsible because of a mental issue, saying he was on medication at the time of the crime.

Although his lawyers asked the judge to explain the defence to the jury, the request was refused and no instructions were given.

Proulx was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole before 25 years.

The Quebec Court of Appeal refused in 2012 to overturn the guilty verdict, saying the lack of instructions did not deny Proulx a fair trial.