NCJ Number
182069
Journal
Gazette Volume: 61 Issue: 7-12 Dated: July/August 1999 Pages: 42-45
Editor(s)
Andre Thouin
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article investigates murder of prison guards in Quebec.
Abstract
Intimidation of law enforcement by outlaw bikers reached a new level in 1997 when two Quebec prison guards were murdered and one wounded. In December 1997 the Montreal police arrested a gang member and a sympathizer who agreed to become informants. The sympathizer implicated a prominent biker figure who was charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The sympathizer was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a prison guard. Another first-degree murder charge was dropped in return for his testimony against the prominent gang member. The article describes the extraordinary security procedures taken during the trial of the prominent biker. Security precautions also extended to the jury; jurors were sequestered for the whole trial, the first time this had been done since 1983. The article also suggests special witness protection in connection with biker trials. Every court case which results in an acquittal or is dropped for lack of evidence or intimidated witnesses fuels further biker aggression toward law enforcement. References