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This program is
rated 14+, and contains
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scenes of violence and
mature subject matter.
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Viewer discretion is advised.
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And then opened my parents'
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apartment door,
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and I saw two officers,
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and I was like,
"Oh, I think that's bad."
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I want
to know what's happening.
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I want to know,
I'm the mom.
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She said, "She's dead."
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When I got there, a lot of...
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police were still there,
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and a lot of people
that were traumatized
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because they heard something,
they saw something.
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We learned pretty early
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that it was
a 24-year-old female.
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You get to see
on different cameras
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that he just follows her
to the streets,
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and you get to see that,
really, the plan was there.
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He waited for her, and then
followed her to the home.
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And it's like you can...
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live what happened
almost live.
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They were all sorry
that they couldn't do anything,
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but there was nothing to do.
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It was too fast, too brutal.
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Welcome to Crime Beat.
I'm Antony Robart.
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On October 19th, 2021,
a Montreal woman
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living and working
near McGill University
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was violently
attacked and killed.
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With the horrific incident
captured on video
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and numerous eyewitnesses,
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it was seemingly
an open and shut case.
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But as her family
would soon discover,
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justice doesn't always
come easily.
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Here now is Dan Spector
with "A Part of Me Died."
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♪ Nothing seems
to be lasting ♪
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Romane Bonnier
was drawn to the arts
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from a very young age.
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Broadway star, nothing less.
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She wanted to land
stuff here in Montreal
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for her CV and then
go off to New York.
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She decided
to pursue singing
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and acting as a career
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with the enthusiastic
support of her family.
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She was
at a few days of her first
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professional paid gig,
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and we were so proud.
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That was a Shakespeare.
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I was so proud
because she worked so hard.
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It was 2021.
Romane was 24 years old.
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She was very driven
in her career and her goals.
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No, no, no, we're--
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we're supposed to check up
on mom in, like, 10 minutes.
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Yeah, she worked really hard.
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No, it's not.
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Along with her new acting gig,
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she was still helping out
at the family business,
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a lighting store
near the heart
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of downtown Montreal,
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just a few blocks
from McGill University.
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She worked the front desk,
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customer service,
and she took
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a lot of the order
by phone.
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And that's
where she was on that chilly
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October afternoon in 2021.
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She finished
at 4:30 and I finished at 5:00.
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So we were at the door
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and I kissed her
on the forehead.
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She was always
tilt her head like that
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so I can kiss her there.
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And I said, "I'm going
to miss you tomorrow."
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And...
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that's the last words
I told her.
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Well, tomorrow became eternity.
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Yeah.
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In-person learning
had just recently resumed
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following a year-long pause
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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So the neighborhood
was bustling with students
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returning home from class.
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Romane was living
in the same apartment building
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as her parents, renting
one of the units below them.
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Shortly after
the 24-year-old left work,
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her mother Jasmine closed up
the shop and headed home,
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just a few minutes walk away
in the Milton Park area,
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better known
as the McGill Ghetto.
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Jasmine, she was,
like, coming from here
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to the home and she said,
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"There's a lot of cars, police
car on the hallway."
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At first,
it never occurred to them
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that there was a connection.
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And we didn't know that
it was, like, our daughter.
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As they're discussing
the commotion outside,
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they get a call
from the hospital.
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The emergency doctor,
she called me
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and she asked me,
"What's your relation
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with Romane Bonnier?"
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"I'm the mom," so she said,
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"You have to come
to the hospital right now
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to the emergency."
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So I put my phone
on speaker and I said,
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"I'm with my husband.
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I want to know
what's happening.
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I want to know.
I'm the mom."
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She said, "She's dead."
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With their hearts
racing, Romane's parents
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started to understand
all the sirens
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and commotion outside
had something to do
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with their daughter.
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We had this
instant reaction
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of getting our things
and go to the hospital.
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But the entire neighborhood
was blocked by police car.
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We want to get to the hospital
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because I have
only one thing in my mind.
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I have to see Romane.
You know, we have to go there.
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We have to go there, we may,
you know, we may hold her.
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We called an Uber
and the Uber was not able
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to even come near the building.
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And instantly we figure out
this was probably...
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the scene
of what happened to Romane.
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And so we went
to the first officer
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near the gate.
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They were that kind of like,
everything was blocked
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and we said,
"We're the parents."
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And he just went,
like, white.
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It was, like,
at 100 feet from our door,
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everything happened
so, so near home.
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I was probably busy
covering something else
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or finishing my day,
but then the call came.
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A police source
called me and said to me
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that a female was stabbed.
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She was in critical condition.
She would probably die.
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I quickly went to the place
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where it happened
and it was kind of chaotic
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still at the time
that I got there.
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I happened in a neighborhood
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where there's
a lot of students,
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a lot of people at witness,
what had happened?
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A lot of people were shaken.
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Scream was really violent
and constant.
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It makes you
scared for your safety.
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This is a neighborhood
full of students.
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When I got there, a lot
of police were still there.
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A lot of people
were still there
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and a lot of people
that were traumatized
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because they heard something,
they saw something.
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We learned pretty early
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that it was
a 24-year-old female
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and we were like, like,
everybody around was her age.
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But we didn't know
at the time all the details
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of what had happened.
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We felt that the people
were shaken.
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We felt that the people
were touched directly
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because it was a young lady.
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It happens right
where they walk every day.
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And that's what I think
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that was the element
that shocked a lot of people.
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When people explained to us
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that they heard something
from the window,
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some others were really, really
close when that happened.
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I saw him
come from behind
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on the other side of the street
and jump her
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and I didn't realize
that he had a knife at first.
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I thought he might have
just been punching her
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but then I realized there was
a knife and I saw blood.
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We were kept away, obviously
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a bit far from the scene,
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but we could see
as we could get closer,
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still the blood.
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Romane's sister
Marilou gets a call
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from her parents and quickly
senses something is wrong.
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My dad called me
and just told me,
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"Hey, I want
to tell you something,
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you need to come home."
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I remember
pulling on Sherbrooke
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and seeing the street
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lit up with police cars.
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Call it intuition,
but for some reason I was like,
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it has to be something
about my sister.
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And I called her,
I called her to try
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to get a response,
obviously didn't.
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Marilou navigates
around the emergency vehicles
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and police tape.
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She arrives at Guy
and Jasmine's apartment.
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And then opened
my parents' apartment door
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and I saw two officers
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and I was like,
"Oh, I think that's bad."
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He said,
"Okay, I'm going to bring you
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to the command center.
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You're going to meet
all the team and after that,
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someone will escort you
to the emergency."
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But we never went.
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- The body first.
- We wouldn't be able
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- to see her anyway.
- Yeah, and it was not very,
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something
very nice to see either.
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My mom just
said she was attacked.
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I still think about
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00:09:03,734 --> 00:09:05,233
the cry.
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I was kind of wailing.
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And I talked about it
with my brother at some point.
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And he told me,
"This was the single
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saddest sound
I've ever heard."
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I kept just thinking...
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of what had happened, like
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the act her literally dying.
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The victim was immediately
transported to the hospital
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in critical condition.
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We sadly have the confirmation
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that she deceased
at the hospital.
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She was
stabbed several times
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in the upper body.
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Her alleged assailant
was arrested on the scene.
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00:09:46,567 --> 00:09:51,567
He just went there,
stabbed her and stayed there
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00:09:51,734 --> 00:09:53,734
in front of a lot of people
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00:09:53,900 --> 00:09:56,867
in broad daylight
and he never tried to escape.
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He stayed there
and got arrested.
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00:10:00,133 --> 00:10:01,533
According to this other witness,
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00:10:01,700 --> 00:10:03,734
the man who committed the
crime didn't try to escape.
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The attacker
stayed there
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00:10:07,667 --> 00:10:08,700
until the police arrived.
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They didn't run after him.
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He was just there
and they took him
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00:10:11,533 --> 00:10:13,333
into the police car
right here.
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They said,
"We arrest someone."
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00:10:18,367 --> 00:10:21,400
And I was like,
"What? They arrest someone?"
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00:10:21,567 --> 00:10:25,800
I couldn't think of someone
who wants to do harm to Romane.
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00:10:25,967 --> 00:10:29,266
She had too good heart.
She was too kind.
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00:10:29,433 --> 00:10:33,166
Instantly, I asked,
is his name François?
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00:10:33,333 --> 00:10:35,734
It went out of my mouth
without thinking.
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00:10:50,767 --> 00:10:51,867
Welcome back.
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00:10:52,033 --> 00:10:54,433
The family
of Romane Bonnier came home
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00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,133
to find their
Montreal neighborhood
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00:10:56,300 --> 00:11:00,934
swarming with police cars
and a cordoned off crime scene.
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00:11:01,100 --> 00:11:03,100
They would soon discover
the young victim
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00:11:03,266 --> 00:11:04,834
was their very own daughter.
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00:11:06,834 --> 00:11:11,166
We now return to Dan Spector
with "A Part of Me Died."
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00:11:13,867 --> 00:11:15,900
As the night advanced,
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00:11:16,066 --> 00:11:18,900
we learned more
and more details about it.
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00:11:19,066 --> 00:11:22,700
The first info that came in
was that it may be related
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00:11:22,867 --> 00:11:24,734
to a boyfriend
or ex-boyfriend.
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00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,166
Investigators are on the scene
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00:11:29,333 --> 00:11:31,133
to determine the link
between the two.
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00:11:31,300 --> 00:11:33,467
Possibly two people
who know each other.
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00:11:34,734 --> 00:11:37,233
First thing that came
to my mind was,
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00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:41,133
my God, not another one,
because around that time,
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00:11:41,300 --> 00:11:45,300
I remember covering in 2021
a lot of femicide.
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00:11:45,467 --> 00:11:47,633
We didn't know
all the details at the time.
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00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,533
But since I covered
the Crime Beat,
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00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:51,767
there has been a lot.
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00:11:51,934 --> 00:11:53,467
And that was the element
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00:11:53,633 --> 00:11:55,667
that crossed my mind,
another one.
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00:11:55,834 --> 00:11:58,200
How quickly
did you find out who she was?
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00:11:58,367 --> 00:12:01,900
Quickly we could
put a face on the victim.
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00:12:02,066 --> 00:12:05,000
Because there was
a lot of YouTube video,
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00:12:05,166 --> 00:12:07,200
and in the video
she was singing,
255
00:12:07,367 --> 00:12:08,867
she was all smiling.
256
00:12:09,033 --> 00:12:13,433
And that's the image
that we saw of Romane quickly.
257
00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,567
♪ Here you come again ♪
258
00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:18,600
Romane Bonnier
will be remembered
259
00:12:18,767 --> 00:12:20,967
by many for her
shining voice.
260
00:12:21,133 --> 00:12:22,900
Her friends
who called her Romy say,
261
00:12:23,066 --> 00:12:25,333
her musical talent
is among the many things
262
00:12:25,500 --> 00:12:27,433
they will miss
about their friend.
263
00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,500
She was, like,
the definition
264
00:12:30,667 --> 00:12:32,467
of unique and an individual.
265
00:12:32,633 --> 00:12:35,567
You know, she, like, marched
to the beat of her own drum.
266
00:12:35,734 --> 00:12:38,133
She didn't listen
to anyone's opinion of her.
267
00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:39,533
She knew who she was.
268
00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:41,667
With the tearful testimonies
269
00:12:41,834 --> 00:12:43,100
of Romane Bonnier's friends
270
00:12:43,266 --> 00:12:44,367
beginning to come out,
271
00:12:44,533 --> 00:12:47,133
she quickly became
a household name.
272
00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:50,100
I think every time
we get to see the face,
273
00:12:50,266 --> 00:12:52,633
it all gets more concrete.
274
00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:54,500
I think
people relate more.
275
00:12:54,667 --> 00:12:58,633
She was breathing happiness
on those videos.
276
00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,734
♪ That all I really know,
is here you come again ♪
277
00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:05,934
And now she wasn't even
breathing anymore.
278
00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:07,800
That was shocking.
279
00:13:11,900 --> 00:13:13,100
Memorial began to grow
280
00:13:13,266 --> 00:13:14,700
at the scene of the crime.
281
00:13:18,667 --> 00:13:21,133
And amid the grief,
questions about the suspect
282
00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:22,734
began to grow louder.
283
00:13:24,033 --> 00:13:26,867
It was more the next day
that we started working
284
00:13:27,033 --> 00:13:29,900
to try to understand
a bit more who was that guy,
285
00:13:30,066 --> 00:13:34,200
why did he attack her
so violently in the street.
286
00:13:34,367 --> 00:13:37,767
The motive of this aggression
is still under investigation,
287
00:13:37,934 --> 00:13:39,100
but what we can confirm
is that
288
00:13:39,266 --> 00:13:41,266
the victim and the suspect
knew each other.
289
00:13:41,433 --> 00:13:43,500
At the beginning,
it wasn't that clear.
290
00:13:43,667 --> 00:13:47,667
Was he her boyfriend?
Was he her roommate?
291
00:13:47,834 --> 00:13:49,233
In the summer of 2021,
292
00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:51,233
Romane had been
living in an apartment
293
00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:53,000
in the same building
as her parents.
294
00:13:53,166 --> 00:13:55,233
The 24-year-old
was looking for a roommate,
295
00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:57,233
so she posted an ad online.
296
00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,834
A 36-year-old man named
François Pelletier responded,
297
00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:02,633
and he moved in,
with an understanding
298
00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:04,867
that he would be
moving out that September.
299
00:14:05,900 --> 00:14:09,133
Well, at first, we were not
very okay with this idea.
300
00:14:09,300 --> 00:14:12,400
- Comfortable... Yeah, but...
- No. But, you know.
301
00:14:12,567 --> 00:14:14,433
She's an adult.
She was, like, 24.
302
00:14:15,567 --> 00:14:17,600
The family felt
a bit uneasy with a man
303
00:14:17,767 --> 00:14:19,266
more than 10 years older
than Romane
304
00:14:19,433 --> 00:14:22,633
moving into her apartment,
but they respected her choice.
305
00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:27,033
Personally,
I wouldn't have...
306
00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,667
invited a man
307
00:14:29,834 --> 00:14:32,767
whom I don't know
into my home.
308
00:14:32,934 --> 00:14:35,500
So I was surprised,
I think,
309
00:14:35,667 --> 00:14:41,000
at how she trusted this man
or this platform.
310
00:14:41,166 --> 00:14:42,667
And, yeah,
he's a bit older, too.
311
00:14:42,834 --> 00:14:45,834
Yeah, but, you know, at first,
it was just a roommate, so...
312
00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,667
In 2021,
we went through a little lull
313
00:14:49,834 --> 00:14:51,000
in our relationship,
314
00:14:51,166 --> 00:14:53,867
where we had to find ourselves
a little bit more.
315
00:14:54,033 --> 00:14:57,033
We just drifted apart
a little bit,
316
00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,767
but the love
was always there.
317
00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,633
I was working
with her every day,
318
00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,834
so "How is it going
with your roommate?"
319
00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:11,400
And she never mentioned him
in other terms, that roommate.
320
00:15:12,533 --> 00:15:17,734
I was walking the dog,
and I saw Romane in the park
321
00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:19,934
at the McGill University
on the campus,
322
00:15:20,100 --> 00:15:23,166
and she was like,
they were, like, holding hands.
323
00:15:23,333 --> 00:15:27,266
That afternoon, she introduced
me to François Pelletier
324
00:15:27,433 --> 00:15:29,867
She said, "This is my roommate,
François."
325
00:15:30,033 --> 00:15:33,233
I said, "Hi."
He said, "Who are you?"
326
00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,166
I said, "I'm the father."
"Ah, all right."
327
00:15:35,333 --> 00:15:39,066
So he was, like, suspicious
of what was supposed to be
328
00:15:39,233 --> 00:15:41,100
other than her father.
329
00:15:41,266 --> 00:15:43,467
So I think...
330
00:15:43,633 --> 00:15:45,767
- You got a bad vibe.
- A bad vibe, yeah.
331
00:15:48,433 --> 00:15:51,200
On the afternoon
of October 19th, 2021,
332
00:15:51,367 --> 00:15:53,500
the day that Romane Bonnier
was murdered,
333
00:15:53,667 --> 00:15:57,200
François Pelletier is seen
hopping onto a city bus.
334
00:15:57,367 --> 00:15:58,734
He goes and sits
at the back
335
00:15:58,900 --> 00:16:01,033
and rides toward
downtown Montreal.
336
00:16:02,066 --> 00:16:04,333
Around the same time,
Romane Bonnier is finishing up
337
00:16:04,500 --> 00:16:06,133
her shift
at her family's business.
338
00:16:14,133 --> 00:16:15,834
Footage from different
surveillance cameras
339
00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,500
edited together by police
shows Pelletier's movements.
340
00:16:19,667 --> 00:16:20,767
Pelletier gets off the bus
341
00:16:20,934 --> 00:16:22,900
and lurks
near Romane's workplace.
342
00:16:23,066 --> 00:16:25,000
Here he's seen
crossing the street
343
00:16:25,166 --> 00:16:27,333
and walking out of the frame.
344
00:16:27,500 --> 00:16:29,667
He's pacing
back and forth, waiting.
345
00:16:30,934 --> 00:16:32,700
You get to see
François Pelletier,
346
00:16:32,867 --> 00:16:36,867
who just showed up to her work,
wait for a long time.
347
00:16:37,967 --> 00:16:40,467
Romane Bonnier says
goodbye to her mother Jasmine
348
00:16:40,633 --> 00:16:42,600
and leaves the shop
for the short walk
349
00:16:42,767 --> 00:16:44,000
back to her apartment.
350
00:16:45,066 --> 00:16:46,767
You get to see
on different cameras
351
00:16:46,934 --> 00:16:49,667
that he just follows her
to the street.
352
00:16:49,834 --> 00:16:53,567
And you get to see that
really the plan was there.
353
00:16:53,734 --> 00:16:56,867
He waited for her and then
followed her to the home.
354
00:16:57,033 --> 00:17:03,600
And it's like you can live
what happened almost live.
355
00:17:03,767 --> 00:17:04,667
She walks up the hill
356
00:17:04,834 --> 00:17:05,900
toward Sherbrooke Street.
357
00:17:06,066 --> 00:17:07,266
Pelletier can be seen
358
00:17:07,433 --> 00:17:09,233
picking up his pace
to catch up with her.
359
00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:13,100
He appears to be holding
flowers in his left hand.
360
00:17:13,266 --> 00:17:14,767
Romane crosses
Sherbrooke Street
361
00:17:14,934 --> 00:17:16,800
and enters
the Milton Park area
362
00:17:16,967 --> 00:17:18,533
near McGill University.
363
00:17:18,700 --> 00:17:20,400
Pelletier jaywalks
across the street
364
00:17:20,567 --> 00:17:23,000
at the top of the frame,
jogging through traffic.
365
00:17:23,166 --> 00:17:25,066
He's now
just steps behind her.
366
00:17:26,166 --> 00:17:28,600
Romane continues
her brisk walk toward home,
367
00:17:28,767 --> 00:17:30,967
now in the area
packed with students.
368
00:17:31,133 --> 00:17:35,467
Pelletier, flowers in hand,
increases his pace to a run.
369
00:17:35,633 --> 00:17:37,333
Romane doesn't
see it coming.
370
00:17:54,900 --> 00:17:55,867
Welcome back.
371
00:17:56,033 --> 00:17:57,867
When 24-year-old
Romane Bonnier
372
00:17:58,033 --> 00:18:00,900
chose a new roommate
for a short-term sublet,
373
00:18:01,066 --> 00:18:03,133
her family
questioned her choice,
374
00:18:03,300 --> 00:18:05,700
an older man
named François Pelletier.
375
00:18:05,867 --> 00:18:08,900
Within months,
the aspiring singer was dead,
376
00:18:09,066 --> 00:18:11,433
leaving her family
to confront a killer
377
00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,834
who had gone
to disturbing lengths
378
00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,934
to hunt her down
that fateful day.
379
00:18:18,233 --> 00:18:22,800
Here again is Dan Spector
with "A Part of Me Died."
380
00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,900
♪ I'll make you
so sure about it ♪
381
00:18:28,066 --> 00:18:32,333
♪ God only knows
what I'd be without you ♪
382
00:18:32,500 --> 00:18:34,600
She was very protective.
383
00:18:34,767 --> 00:18:38,567
She was always
the bubbly one
384
00:18:38,734 --> 00:18:42,033
and the life of the party.
385
00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,166
We liked it when people
couldn't tell us apart.
386
00:18:45,333 --> 00:18:48,033
It's kind of a...
because you're twins,
387
00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,333
you're kind of
supposed to fool people.
388
00:18:52,500 --> 00:18:55,467
She had a mole over her lip,
389
00:18:55,633 --> 00:18:59,867
so that was the defining
trait for most people.
390
00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:03,767
But, you know, when we were
both in our ballet attire
391
00:19:03,934 --> 00:19:06,800
with a bun and,
like, the same costume,
392
00:19:06,967 --> 00:19:08,800
it would be hard
to tell us apart.
393
00:19:08,967 --> 00:19:11,166
Romane and Marilou,
I mean, obviously,
394
00:19:11,333 --> 00:19:14,166
as identical twins,
there's a special bond, right?
395
00:19:14,333 --> 00:19:15,967
There was a special bond.
396
00:19:16,133 --> 00:19:19,166
It was a very nice
period for the family.
397
00:19:19,333 --> 00:19:21,100
When you found that out that
you were going to have twins,
398
00:19:21,266 --> 00:19:23,367
- I guess it's always a shock.
- It was a good shock.
399
00:19:23,533 --> 00:19:27,867
It was a shock,
but I already had two boys.
400
00:19:28,033 --> 00:19:30,233
It went well.
It went very well.
401
00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:32,600
Well, I remember
when we got the news,
402
00:19:32,767 --> 00:19:34,266
I had to sit down.
403
00:19:34,433 --> 00:19:36,433
But it was marvelous.
404
00:19:38,100 --> 00:19:40,367
♪ Building me a home ♪
405
00:19:40,533 --> 00:19:41,867
She loved to sing...
406
00:19:42,033 --> 00:19:45,066
♪ Thinking I'd be
strong there ♪
407
00:19:45,233 --> 00:19:46,567
...as I do, too, I think
408
00:19:46,734 --> 00:19:50,600
we got that part
from early on childhood.
409
00:19:50,767 --> 00:19:53,533
We used to both sing
in the bath together,
410
00:19:53,700 --> 00:19:55,967
Disney songs,
she would do covers.
411
00:19:56,133 --> 00:19:59,667
She even did
a few original songs.
412
00:19:59,834 --> 00:20:02,200
♪ And I think to myself ♪
413
00:20:03,667 --> 00:20:05,834
♪ What a wonderful world ♪
414
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:07,734
I think she started
that during the pandemic,
415
00:20:07,900 --> 00:20:09,133
the YouTube videos.
416
00:20:09,300 --> 00:20:11,000
She was training
by herself.
417
00:20:11,166 --> 00:20:13,233
She was doing ballet
in her apartment.
418
00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,233
At some point, she even had
a trampoline in her apartment,
419
00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,900
which we made fun
of all the time.
420
00:20:20,467 --> 00:20:23,834
I worked
with Romane, and I said,
421
00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:25,100
"How is your life?"
422
00:20:25,266 --> 00:20:28,367
And she said, "Oh, okay.
Dad told you."
423
00:20:28,533 --> 00:20:29,500
"Told me what?"
424
00:20:29,667 --> 00:20:32,567
And then she said,
"Oh, well,
425
00:20:32,734 --> 00:20:35,066
François and I,
we're together."
426
00:20:35,233 --> 00:20:37,333
"Oh..." so I said,
"...okay, you're together."
427
00:20:37,500 --> 00:20:39,400
But she wasn't
telling everything.
428
00:20:39,567 --> 00:20:42,800
We were not informed
that they were lovers,
429
00:20:42,967 --> 00:20:44,600
and she never said
my friend.
430
00:20:44,767 --> 00:20:47,133
It was always a roommate.
431
00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:51,000
I met him once.
We ate at their apartment.
432
00:20:51,166 --> 00:20:52,467
Seemed fine.
433
00:20:53,533 --> 00:20:57,066
At some point,
she called me to get...
434
00:20:57,233 --> 00:21:00,500
some insight,
because she was wanting
435
00:21:00,667 --> 00:21:03,800
to step back
from her relationship with him,
436
00:21:03,967 --> 00:21:06,567
and he was not
giving her the space.
437
00:21:06,734 --> 00:21:10,800
She never said she was worried
about her safety or anything.
438
00:21:10,967 --> 00:21:13,867
She was just asking
439
00:21:14,033 --> 00:21:17,567
if it's normal,
"What should I do?"
440
00:21:17,734 --> 00:21:21,900
And at that time, I told her,
"Listen, if he does love you
441
00:21:22,066 --> 00:21:26,166
like he says he does,
he needs to give you space."
442
00:21:27,266 --> 00:21:28,867
So he was moving out,
443
00:21:29,033 --> 00:21:30,533
and I must say that
444
00:21:30,700 --> 00:21:33,367
when he left,
I was relieved.
445
00:21:33,533 --> 00:21:38,633
I met him when he moved out
at the door of the building,
446
00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,467
and I wish him good luck.
447
00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:45,800
So you didn't know
that there was a sort of
448
00:21:45,967 --> 00:21:47,600
complicated situation afoot,
449
00:21:47,767 --> 00:21:50,834
or that he had been sending her
these text messages?
450
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,266
The complications became
after, after he left.
451
00:21:54,433 --> 00:21:55,934
With Romane saying
that he was, like,
452
00:21:56,100 --> 00:21:58,667
insisting
and texting her a lot.
453
00:21:58,834 --> 00:22:03,867
She wrote to him.
She went to his new place.
454
00:22:04,033 --> 00:22:06,967
Despite all that,
he was harassing her.
455
00:22:07,133 --> 00:22:09,166
So at one point,
I told her,
456
00:22:09,333 --> 00:22:12,467
"Why don't you
block his contact?"
457
00:22:12,633 --> 00:22:15,367
And she said
she didn't want to.
458
00:22:15,533 --> 00:22:19,834
She protected him,
because she told me that
459
00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,200
he told her that
he could commit suicide.
460
00:22:24,300 --> 00:22:28,100
In retrospect,
I think she felt embarrassed
461
00:22:28,266 --> 00:22:31,100
or worried
and didn't want to worry us.
462
00:22:31,266 --> 00:22:34,633
And even
her best friends at the time
463
00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,033
didn't hear much about it.
464
00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:39,834
About 10 days
before the murder,
465
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:44,266
he went here,
and I just opened the door,
466
00:22:44,433 --> 00:22:46,066
and I said,
"Well, Romane is not there.
467
00:22:46,233 --> 00:22:47,667
She has a rehearsal."
468
00:22:47,834 --> 00:22:51,500
So he said, "Can you please
tell her to answer me?"
469
00:22:51,667 --> 00:22:54,533
I said, "Well,
maybe she needs a break,
470
00:22:54,700 --> 00:22:57,400
but I'll do the message."
471
00:22:57,567 --> 00:23:00,300
And... that's it.
472
00:23:00,467 --> 00:23:02,633
You said he had a weird vibe,
did you feel something similar,
473
00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:04,233
- or did you just sort of...
- Not the first time.
474
00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,166
The first time,
he was very polite, solid guy,
475
00:23:07,333 --> 00:23:09,834
you know, good handshake.
476
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,734
But the last time
at the door, he was, like,
477
00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:15,100
a bit troubled,
but in pain.
478
00:23:15,266 --> 00:23:17,767
He was having a hard time
with the situation,
479
00:23:17,934 --> 00:23:20,333
the relationship situation,
I guess.
480
00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:21,767
She didn't tell everything,
481
00:23:21,934 --> 00:23:26,633
because we learned a lot
of things during the trial.
482
00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:28,300
The suspect,
François Pelletier,
483
00:23:28,467 --> 00:23:29,633
appeared in court Wednesday.
484
00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:32,567
He faces a single charge
of first-degree murder.
485
00:23:32,734 --> 00:23:34,800
The 36-year-old
will remain detained
486
00:23:34,967 --> 00:23:36,633
until his next
court appearance.
487
00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,300
We knew a few elements.
488
00:23:39,467 --> 00:23:41,500
She was working.
She was getting home.
489
00:23:41,667 --> 00:23:44,333
That was the lines
that we knew, basically.
490
00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:46,400
But when we went
to court in the trial,
491
00:23:46,567 --> 00:23:50,934
then we learned
really all the events,
492
00:23:51,100 --> 00:23:53,367
like a plea by plea
of what happened that day.
493
00:23:54,500 --> 00:23:56,900
The trial of a man accused
of murdering a woman
494
00:23:57,066 --> 00:24:01,133
in broad daylight
in the McGill Ghetto in 2021
495
00:24:01,300 --> 00:24:03,500
heard from multiple
witnesses.
496
00:24:03,667 --> 00:24:06,333
24-year-old artist
Romane Bonnier
497
00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:08,166
was stabbed to death.
498
00:24:08,333 --> 00:24:11,000
Our Dan Spector was
at the Montreal courthouse
499
00:24:11,166 --> 00:24:12,767
and joins us from there now.
500
00:24:12,934 --> 00:24:14,500
Dan, the jury was shown
501
00:24:14,667 --> 00:24:16,233
surveillance video
of the crime.
502
00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:18,000
How did the courtroom react?
503
00:24:20,233 --> 00:24:24,300
Andrea, it was stunned
and somber silence
504
00:24:24,467 --> 00:24:27,433
as the surveillance footage
was played for the jury.
505
00:24:29,667 --> 00:24:31,734
Mind your own
[bleep] business.
506
00:24:31,900 --> 00:24:33,734
As bystanders
scream in horror,
507
00:24:33,900 --> 00:24:36,367
Pelletier tells them
to mind their own business.
508
00:24:36,533 --> 00:24:38,867
- I'm so sorry.
- He apologizes repeatedly,
509
00:24:39,033 --> 00:24:42,600
sitting over her as
horrified witnesses call 911.
510
00:24:42,767 --> 00:24:44,200
One man approaches
and Pelletier
511
00:24:44,367 --> 00:24:46,300
brandishes a knife
in his direction.
512
00:24:46,467 --> 00:24:48,400
Police are on the scene
in moments
513
00:24:48,567 --> 00:24:50,000
as the sirens grow louder.
514
00:24:52,100 --> 00:24:53,300
You heard all the screamings,
515
00:24:53,467 --> 00:24:55,533
you see the final moments.
516
00:24:55,700 --> 00:24:57,767
That was really,
really hard to see.
517
00:24:57,934 --> 00:25:01,834
And you get to understand
she had no chance.
518
00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,467
He had a plan.
He wanted to kill her.
519
00:25:04,633 --> 00:25:06,467
And he said, "I'm sorry."
520
00:25:06,633 --> 00:25:10,233
He was there to do that.
And he never tried to escape.
521
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:12,300
He stayed there
and got arrested.
522
00:25:13,633 --> 00:25:15,500
That seems
like that was the goal
523
00:25:15,667 --> 00:25:17,000
that he needed to accomplish
524
00:25:17,166 --> 00:25:20,066
at that time,
kill Romane Bonnier.
525
00:25:20,233 --> 00:25:22,166
Marilou and her
mother made the decision
526
00:25:22,333 --> 00:25:24,867
not to watch the video
and still never have.
527
00:25:26,100 --> 00:25:29,166
I knew it wouldn't help me.
528
00:25:29,333 --> 00:25:32,633
I heard some stuff that I had
wished that I hadn't heard.
529
00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:37,533
And so I was at a point
in the trial where I knew
530
00:25:37,700 --> 00:25:39,700
it wouldn't serve me well.
531
00:25:39,867 --> 00:25:42,800
I did not see it.
I didn't want to see it.
532
00:25:42,967 --> 00:25:46,166
I didn't want to hear her.
I didn't want to see it.
533
00:25:46,333 --> 00:25:49,533
I-- I-- I stayed
for all the witnesses
534
00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:51,633
who described what they saw.
535
00:25:52,734 --> 00:25:57,834
Each of them, we thanked them
because they were all sorry
536
00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:01,834
that they couldn't do anything,
but there was nothing to do.
537
00:26:13,734 --> 00:26:14,934
Welcome back.
538
00:26:15,100 --> 00:26:17,266
François Pelletier is on trial
539
00:26:17,433 --> 00:26:18,934
for the murder
of his former roommate,
540
00:26:19,100 --> 00:26:21,033
Romane Bonnier,
who was killed
541
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,333
in a daylight attack near
Montreal's McGill University.
542
00:26:24,500 --> 00:26:26,467
But what unfolded
in the courtroom
543
00:26:26,633 --> 00:26:29,000
would be a shock
for the family all over again.
544
00:26:31,367 --> 00:26:35,734
Here again is Dan Spector
with "A Part of Me Died."
545
00:26:37,633 --> 00:26:39,467
The jury heard
testimony from six people
546
00:26:39,633 --> 00:26:42,533
who witnessed the alleged
crime in the McGill Ghetto,
547
00:26:42,700 --> 00:26:44,533
which was described
as dramatic,
548
00:26:44,700 --> 00:26:46,367
vivid, and extreme.
549
00:26:46,533 --> 00:26:49,066
Some came across the events
as they were walking by,
550
00:26:49,233 --> 00:26:51,100
others watched
the drama unfold
551
00:26:51,266 --> 00:26:52,734
through their
bedroom windows.
552
00:26:52,900 --> 00:26:55,266
Witnesses recounted
hearing a woman unleash
553
00:26:55,433 --> 00:26:57,633
blood-curdling screams
before seeing a man
554
00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:00,333
on top of her,
stabbing her multiple times.
555
00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:01,867
They said
he screamed things like,
556
00:27:02,033 --> 00:27:04,266
"This had to happen,
I'm so sorry,
557
00:27:04,433 --> 00:27:05,500
I had to kill her,
558
00:27:05,667 --> 00:27:07,433
I didn't want to
have to do this,
559
00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:08,834
but she has to die."
560
00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:10,967
One former McGill student
said at one point
561
00:27:11,133 --> 00:27:13,266
she saw the man
with flowers in one hand
562
00:27:13,433 --> 00:27:14,834
and a knife in the other.
563
00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,600
She and a friend ran toward
the scene, hoping to help.
564
00:27:17,767 --> 00:27:20,367
The man then brandished
a knife in their direction,
565
00:27:20,533 --> 00:27:22,600
telling them
to mind their own business
566
00:27:22,767 --> 00:27:25,600
as they laid eyes
on the woman covered in blood.
567
00:27:25,767 --> 00:27:28,166
A growing crowd of people
watched in horror,
568
00:27:28,333 --> 00:27:30,066
screaming for the violence to stop,
569
00:27:30,233 --> 00:27:33,100
others taking photos or videos
before police arrived
570
00:27:33,266 --> 00:27:35,834
and arrested the suspect
without a struggle.
571
00:27:36,867 --> 00:27:39,633
According to court testimony,
Pelletier stabbed Bonnier
572
00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:41,800
more than two dozen times.
573
00:27:42,934 --> 00:27:46,533
Seventeen of those
were in vital organs,
574
00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:49,734
so there was nothing
anyone could do.
575
00:27:49,900 --> 00:27:51,433
And those witnesses are,
576
00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:53,800
for their life,
like us, they are...
577
00:27:53,967 --> 00:27:55,700
- They were traumatized.
- Traumatized.
578
00:27:55,867 --> 00:27:57,066
Guy, you didn't
watch the video?
579
00:27:57,233 --> 00:27:59,233
I did.
And I'll tell you why.
580
00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:02,467
It put an end to my fantasy.
581
00:28:03,633 --> 00:28:07,934
It put an end
to me imagining the scene.
582
00:28:08,100 --> 00:28:11,934
It was the time where
I'm supposed to walk the dog,
583
00:28:12,100 --> 00:28:13,633
- so I could have...
- Seen her.
584
00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:15,934
...seen her, I could have
seen the murder,
585
00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:18,633
I mean,
and this is the kind of stuff,
586
00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:20,100
that was my nightmare.
587
00:28:21,633 --> 00:28:22,934
The first-degree murder trial
588
00:28:23,100 --> 00:28:25,200
permitted the family
to finally learn the details
589
00:28:25,367 --> 00:28:26,467
of what happened.
590
00:28:26,633 --> 00:28:28,633
But getting there
took a lot longer
591
00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,233
and was a lot harder
than they ever expected.
592
00:28:32,467 --> 00:28:34,767
You think
that what you saw on TV
593
00:28:34,934 --> 00:28:36,133
is like the real thing,
594
00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:38,900
but the real thing
is really worse.
595
00:28:39,066 --> 00:28:41,166
I remember checking
the process and waiting.
596
00:28:41,333 --> 00:28:44,433
We were waiting to know
when it would begin,
597
00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:45,834
then more delays.
598
00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:47,700
Four years
before the trial,
599
00:28:47,867 --> 00:28:51,333
four years where all your life
is like on standby.
600
00:28:52,300 --> 00:28:55,033
And it was all
due to the fact
601
00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,600
that he was
representing himself
602
00:28:57,767 --> 00:28:59,800
and then he was not
representing himself
603
00:28:59,967 --> 00:29:02,767
and then he decided to have
a lawyer and then he decided
604
00:29:02,934 --> 00:29:05,133
that he was
representing himself.
605
00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:07,100
For the family,
when they hear that
606
00:29:07,266 --> 00:29:09,633
the accused
is going to represent himself,
607
00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:10,600
they're scared.
608
00:29:10,767 --> 00:29:12,233
It becomes a circus.
609
00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,100
It's a freak show,
I'm sorry,
610
00:29:14,266 --> 00:29:16,567
and you're wondering,
when is it going to stop?
611
00:29:17,667 --> 00:29:18,734
He never denied,
612
00:29:18,900 --> 00:29:21,633
but he never
quite explained it, neither,
613
00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:22,700
in his defense.
614
00:29:22,867 --> 00:29:24,400
It was more like a...
615
00:29:24,567 --> 00:29:27,133
strange, erratic theories.
616
00:29:29,900 --> 00:29:31,266
In court,
François Pelletier
617
00:29:31,433 --> 00:29:32,667
admitted to killing Romane,
618
00:29:32,834 --> 00:29:35,533
but pleaded not guilty
to first-degree murder.
619
00:29:35,700 --> 00:29:38,166
Prosecutors theorized
that he planned her murder
620
00:29:38,333 --> 00:29:39,967
because he could
not accept the idea
621
00:29:40,133 --> 00:29:42,066
of her being with other men.
622
00:29:42,233 --> 00:29:43,767
It's not in all the cases
623
00:29:43,934 --> 00:29:46,867
that you have
such strong evidence
624
00:29:47,033 --> 00:29:50,200
where it's not possible
to deny it happened.
625
00:29:50,367 --> 00:29:52,133
All the images were there.
626
00:29:52,300 --> 00:29:56,467
So the main point
of this trial
627
00:29:56,633 --> 00:29:58,734
was more a state of mind
628
00:29:58,900 --> 00:30:01,567
than the actions
because we could see.
629
00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:04,500
Because Pelletier
had no lawyer to guide
630
00:30:04,667 --> 00:30:06,900
and question him
on the witness stand,
631
00:30:07,066 --> 00:30:08,500
he attempted
to defend himself
632
00:30:08,667 --> 00:30:10,567
by delivering long monologues.
633
00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:14,233
The guy would just
go on and on and on
634
00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:16,166
towards so many directions
635
00:30:16,333 --> 00:30:18,333
that were often
pointing to nowhere.
636
00:30:18,500 --> 00:30:19,567
It's a shock.
637
00:30:19,734 --> 00:30:24,266
He has been allowed
to question himself,
638
00:30:24,433 --> 00:30:27,533
and it lasts
five days and a half.
639
00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:31,033
♪ In the sky,
you'll get by ♪
640
00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:34,300
♪ If you smile through
your fear and sorrow ♪
641
00:30:34,467 --> 00:30:35,667
She was
supposed to be a witch,
642
00:30:35,834 --> 00:30:37,000
and he was killing the witch.
643
00:30:37,166 --> 00:30:38,767
He was not killing Romane.
644
00:30:38,934 --> 00:30:41,100
- She had a double personality.
- Yeah, yeah.
645
00:30:41,266 --> 00:30:45,533
And the second personality
was taking over the good one.
646
00:30:46,867 --> 00:30:49,633
He's a soldier of God.
647
00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:51,200
There's a few phrases
648
00:30:51,367 --> 00:30:53,467
that have struck with me.
649
00:30:53,633 --> 00:30:57,967
It was a six-day monologue.
650
00:30:58,133 --> 00:31:00,333
And sometimes
the judge would tell him
651
00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:02,300
to stick to the point,
652
00:31:02,467 --> 00:31:04,967
but then it would start
all over again.
653
00:31:07,033 --> 00:31:09,066
Pelletier spoke about
becoming obsessed with her
654
00:31:09,233 --> 00:31:11,100
soon after
the pair became roommates.
655
00:31:11,266 --> 00:31:13,767
The Crown presented a vast
collection of text messages
656
00:31:13,934 --> 00:31:16,100
and letters Pelletier
had written to Romane.
657
00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:20,300
He was jealous,
he was possessive,
658
00:31:20,467 --> 00:31:23,133
and so that we learned
at the trial.
659
00:31:23,300 --> 00:31:24,433
That we didn't know.
660
00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:28,367
That was kind of shocking
to hear during the trial.
661
00:31:28,533 --> 00:31:32,834
She told me that
he was texting her a lot,
662
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,433
but I didn't know
that much.
663
00:31:36,300 --> 00:31:38,333
Marilou had
discovered handwritten letters
664
00:31:38,500 --> 00:31:40,033
and turned them
over to police.
665
00:31:41,300 --> 00:31:44,767
Yeah, I found them
in her drawer at some point,
666
00:31:44,934 --> 00:31:46,800
and they were like...
667
00:31:48,533 --> 00:31:49,700
pages and pages.
668
00:31:49,867 --> 00:31:52,033
He would say like,
"I love you,"
669
00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:53,500
"We need to work on this,"
670
00:31:53,667 --> 00:31:56,767
and like, "I can't wait
to have a life with you,"
671
00:31:56,934 --> 00:31:59,433
and like,
"We can prevail."
672
00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:03,300
But very,
very insisting language.
673
00:32:03,467 --> 00:32:06,834
I remember speaking to one
of Romane's friends that day,
674
00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:10,500
and she would describe to me
the relationship
675
00:32:10,667 --> 00:32:12,533
Romane had
with François Pelletier,
676
00:32:12,700 --> 00:32:14,633
that she wasn't happy anymore.
677
00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:16,667
She described him
as a monster.
678
00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:20,734
Pelletier described his murder plot
679
00:32:20,900 --> 00:32:23,233
as Operation Wrath of Heaven.
680
00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:25,633
He told the jury
that Romane had to die.
681
00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:27,400
There was no other solution.
682
00:32:27,567 --> 00:32:29,467
He said in court
that he had to do it
683
00:32:29,633 --> 00:32:32,200
to protect her, and that
by stabbing her to death,
684
00:32:32,367 --> 00:32:34,333
he had prevented
the apocalypse.
685
00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:36,934
At the end of the day,
it was like,
686
00:32:37,100 --> 00:32:38,767
my goodness,
this is impossible.
687
00:32:38,934 --> 00:32:41,000
This is like a sitcom,
and saying,
688
00:32:41,166 --> 00:32:42,900
I'm still
in love with her.
689
00:32:43,066 --> 00:32:45,233
I mean,
this is a nonsense.
690
00:32:46,367 --> 00:32:48,100
The relationship
lasted four months,
691
00:32:48,266 --> 00:32:50,400
and at the end of it,
692
00:32:50,567 --> 00:32:52,700
you decided
she didn't deserve to live.
693
00:32:53,934 --> 00:32:59,033
So that really
didn't work well with me.
694
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:03,033
And hearing him say,
he still loves her,
695
00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,633
and she's a queen,
and it's like,
696
00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:07,767
you don't get to say that.
697
00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:12,133
He was trying
to make it as if my sister
698
00:33:12,300 --> 00:33:14,800
had something to do about it.
699
00:33:14,967 --> 00:33:19,000
And I'm still not sure
if he was playing a, like,
700
00:33:19,166 --> 00:33:20,834
mentally ill person,
701
00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:25,033
or he really believed
that she had bewitched him.
702
00:33:26,066 --> 00:33:28,033
One of the expert
witnesses called by the Crown
703
00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,166
was forensic psychiatrist
Dr. Gilles Chamberlain.
704
00:33:31,333 --> 00:33:34,300
He said in his eyes, a verdict
of non-criminally responsible
705
00:33:34,467 --> 00:33:37,800
due to mental health reasons
was not a possibility.
706
00:33:37,967 --> 00:33:39,800
That Pelletier
was in touch with reality
707
00:33:39,967 --> 00:33:41,166
at the time of the murder,
708
00:33:41,333 --> 00:33:43,934
just overwhelmed
by pain and rage.
709
00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:46,967
And he said that he knew
710
00:33:47,133 --> 00:33:50,066
what he was doing,
that he just wouldn't accept
711
00:33:50,233 --> 00:33:52,133
that the relationship
was over.
712
00:33:52,300 --> 00:33:53,633
I was relieved.
713
00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:57,300
I was like,
oh, thank God, somebody,
714
00:33:57,467 --> 00:34:01,333
you know, saw that,
that he's not crazy,
715
00:34:01,500 --> 00:34:04,166
and he's just
a very manipulative,
716
00:34:04,333 --> 00:34:06,667
narcissist person.
717
00:34:07,633 --> 00:34:08,934
Pelletier had been diagnosed
718
00:34:09,100 --> 00:34:11,500
with obsessive-compulsive
disorder in childhood,
719
00:34:11,667 --> 00:34:13,567
and had been
hospitalized at age 18
720
00:34:13,734 --> 00:34:17,133
after having suicidal thoughts
following another breakup.
721
00:34:17,300 --> 00:34:19,533
That led him to think
722
00:34:19,700 --> 00:34:22,066
in a compulsive way
723
00:34:22,233 --> 00:34:24,200
that she was, like,
the woman of his life.
724
00:34:24,367 --> 00:34:26,767
And from there,
it went south.
725
00:34:26,934 --> 00:34:29,467
More and more,
I was realizing that,
726
00:34:29,633 --> 00:34:32,433
how can Romane
get rid of this man?
727
00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:35,934
Because a judge and the...
728
00:34:36,100 --> 00:34:39,100
- The prosecutor,
- ...and five lawyers
729
00:34:39,266 --> 00:34:40,567
cannot control him.
730
00:34:40,734 --> 00:34:42,834
How could she ever be able
731
00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,400
to say to that man,
no, it's no.
732
00:34:45,567 --> 00:34:46,800
You know, it's finished.
733
00:34:46,967 --> 00:34:50,834
♪ I looked at the skies ♪
734
00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:56,166
♪ Running my hands
over my eyes ♪
735
00:34:57,633 --> 00:35:01,567
♪ And I fell out of bed ♪
736
00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:09,100
Welcome back.
737
00:35:09,266 --> 00:35:11,467
As Romane Bonnier's
family grieved,
738
00:35:11,633 --> 00:35:13,967
her twin sister
also had to face
739
00:35:14,133 --> 00:35:16,633
learning to live
without her other half.
740
00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,233
Amidst their heartbreak,
the family clung to hope
741
00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:22,233
that Romane's murder
would not be in vain
742
00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:26,033
by exposing a much darker
systemic crisis.
743
00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:29,600
Here now is Dan Spector
744
00:35:29,767 --> 00:35:33,734
with the conclusion
of "A Part of Me Died."
745
00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:38,100
Nearly four years
after the events,
746
00:35:38,266 --> 00:35:39,900
Romane Bonnier's parents
can finally
747
00:35:40,066 --> 00:35:41,400
breathe a sigh of relief.
748
00:35:41,567 --> 00:35:43,433
François Pelletier,
39 years old,
749
00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:45,300
was found guilty
this morning for the murder
750
00:35:45,467 --> 00:35:48,233
of their daughter
in October 2021.
751
00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:50,667
He automatically gets
a sentence of life in prison
752
00:35:50,834 --> 00:35:54,900
without the possibility
of parole for 25 years.
753
00:35:55,066 --> 00:35:56,767
Did you feel
a sense of justice?
754
00:35:56,934 --> 00:35:59,033
Yes, of course, but--
755
00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:00,667
Yes and no, I mean,
756
00:36:00,834 --> 00:36:03,266
I was still
in the shock wave
757
00:36:03,433 --> 00:36:06,367
of discovering
our judicial system.
758
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:09,600
Romane was murdered.
759
00:36:09,767 --> 00:36:12,700
There are 30 witnesses.
760
00:36:12,867 --> 00:36:14,667
He was there
on the crime scene.
761
00:36:14,834 --> 00:36:18,000
When he was arrested there,
it's simple in a way.
762
00:36:18,166 --> 00:36:19,867
It shouldn't be a...
763
00:36:20,033 --> 00:36:24,166
almost two months
in the court room, you know.
764
00:36:24,333 --> 00:36:28,567
The system gives the accused
a lot of privileges.
765
00:36:28,734 --> 00:36:30,100
Bonnier points out how in France,
766
00:36:30,266 --> 00:36:32,300
people are not permitted
to represent themselves
767
00:36:32,467 --> 00:36:36,333
in court when dealing with
a serious criminal accusation.
768
00:36:36,500 --> 00:36:39,300
Why, because
you're not a lawyer
769
00:36:39,467 --> 00:36:41,200
and it's very hard to manage
770
00:36:41,367 --> 00:36:44,100
the 2,700 pages
of the criminal code.
771
00:36:44,266 --> 00:36:46,133
You can't realistically
772
00:36:46,300 --> 00:36:48,100
represent yourself,
in my opinion,
773
00:36:48,266 --> 00:36:49,300
on such serious charges.
774
00:36:49,467 --> 00:36:52,533
I mean, it's foolish
and ill-advised.
775
00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:55,700
Criminal lawyer
Eric Sutton says
776
00:36:55,867 --> 00:36:57,500
though he doesn't think
it's a good idea
777
00:36:57,667 --> 00:36:59,200
for an accused
to defend themselves
778
00:36:59,367 --> 00:37:02,633
against serious charges,
it remains their right.
779
00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:06,467
Ultimately, the most important
feature of a trial
780
00:37:06,633 --> 00:37:09,600
is to ensure that the accused
has a fair hearing
781
00:37:09,767 --> 00:37:13,100
and that the verdict
is defensible
782
00:37:13,266 --> 00:37:15,567
because he or she
has had a fair hearing.
783
00:37:15,734 --> 00:37:18,433
It could be
therapeutic for some victims,
784
00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:20,300
it could be traumatic
for other victims,
785
00:37:20,467 --> 00:37:23,467
but that's not the paramount
purpose of a trial.
786
00:37:23,633 --> 00:37:26,467
It's to determine the guilt
or innocence of an accused.
787
00:37:26,633 --> 00:37:28,433
The person
may be so narcissistic
788
00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:30,667
that they believe
that they are quite capable
789
00:37:30,834 --> 00:37:33,066
or they just want
a grandstand.
790
00:37:33,233 --> 00:37:35,000
I had
some communication
791
00:37:35,166 --> 00:37:37,934
with the Minister of Justice,
Sean Fraser.
792
00:37:38,100 --> 00:37:41,700
It appears that
the minister is open
793
00:37:41,867 --> 00:37:44,200
to modify the law
794
00:37:44,367 --> 00:37:48,433
or change the law
or at least better frame
795
00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:53,233
this situation of people
representing themselves.
796
00:37:54,333 --> 00:37:57,734
I understand the criticism,
but it's probably the best
797
00:37:57,900 --> 00:38:00,333
we can do because
the system generally works.
798
00:38:01,300 --> 00:38:03,433
I don't have any animosity
799
00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:05,133
against François Pelletier,
800
00:38:05,300 --> 00:38:09,100
I mean he's going to finish
his life in prison,
801
00:38:09,266 --> 00:38:12,300
I mean, he's just someone
802
00:38:12,467 --> 00:38:15,066
that our society didn't detect
803
00:38:15,233 --> 00:38:18,333
at the beginning
to taking care of.
804
00:38:19,467 --> 00:38:20,800
Even in those first few days
805
00:38:20,967 --> 00:38:22,300
following Romane's death,
806
00:38:22,467 --> 00:38:24,567
as her family dealt
with their unspeakable grief,
807
00:38:24,734 --> 00:38:26,567
they got a big boost
from their community.
808
00:38:27,934 --> 00:38:30,000
The march began
outside of Fay School,
809
00:38:30,166 --> 00:38:32,900
where Romane Bonnier
was a former student.
810
00:38:33,066 --> 00:38:35,166
Friends, family
and teachers thought
811
00:38:35,333 --> 00:38:36,800
it would be
a good place to remember
812
00:38:36,967 --> 00:38:38,600
the 24-year-old
budding singer.
813
00:38:38,767 --> 00:38:43,000
Romane was a performer artist
and it was a way for us
814
00:38:43,166 --> 00:38:44,867
and the family to...
815
00:38:46,066 --> 00:38:49,133
give her a show,
her last show.
816
00:38:50,133 --> 00:38:54,033
This whole day,
I think I didn't cry once
817
00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:58,133
because I was so happy
that everyone came for her.
818
00:38:59,333 --> 00:39:02,500
We were lucky and we were
fortunate to be able
819
00:39:02,667 --> 00:39:05,533
to fill this void
with love we received
820
00:39:05,700 --> 00:39:07,934
from all those people
we don't know.
821
00:39:08,100 --> 00:39:10,500
I want to thank them, everyone.
822
00:39:11,767 --> 00:39:13,433
I was amazed.
823
00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:17,100
In as little as 23 years,
824
00:39:17,266 --> 00:39:19,834
or 24, she had touched
so many lives.
825
00:39:21,100 --> 00:39:22,767
Her death
is considered Quebec's
826
00:39:22,934 --> 00:39:25,000
17th femicide this year.
827
00:39:25,166 --> 00:39:27,166
Those who attended
Saturday's gathering
828
00:39:27,333 --> 00:39:29,133
not only wanted
to remember Romy,
829
00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:31,533
but also wanted to bring
attention to the violence
830
00:39:31,700 --> 00:39:34,000
she and many other women
have faced.
831
00:39:34,166 --> 00:39:36,967
If we haven't been
in a violent situation,
832
00:39:37,133 --> 00:39:40,133
we all know someone who's been
in a violent situation.
833
00:39:40,300 --> 00:39:42,567
I think it's time
that we get together,
834
00:39:42,734 --> 00:39:45,433
talk about it
and make change.
835
00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:50,233
There's a huge question
to ask ourselves as a society.
836
00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:52,500
What's happening?
What's going around?
837
00:39:54,033 --> 00:39:55,700
I didn't think femicide
838
00:39:55,867 --> 00:39:59,233
was for a family like us,
but I was wrong.
839
00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:02,900
Femicide can touch
anyone and everyone.
840
00:40:03,934 --> 00:40:05,934
How can we prevent this?
841
00:40:06,100 --> 00:40:09,367
How is it happening again?
How is it going to stop?
842
00:40:09,533 --> 00:40:10,934
They have to get out
in the streets
843
00:40:11,100 --> 00:40:12,667
and say, it's enough.
844
00:40:14,467 --> 00:40:18,600
It's really hard
for those women to quit
845
00:40:18,767 --> 00:40:22,166
and to leave,
especially because they know
846
00:40:22,333 --> 00:40:23,967
that around separation,
847
00:40:24,133 --> 00:40:26,100
or imminent separation,
848
00:40:26,266 --> 00:40:30,266
is the moment where it's
the most dangerous for them.
849
00:40:30,433 --> 00:40:32,834
There are red flags
here and there.
850
00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:35,300
I think we have to talk
more about coercive control
851
00:40:35,467 --> 00:40:38,734
because those signs
are really important.
852
00:40:38,900 --> 00:40:43,233
They're present in almost
all the cases of femicide.
853
00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:46,200
They're before
the femicide happens.
854
00:40:46,367 --> 00:40:48,266
Guy Bonnier
has become an advocate
855
00:40:48,433 --> 00:40:49,734
for victims of femicides
856
00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:51,734
and for reform
in the justice system
857
00:40:51,900 --> 00:40:54,834
to make the painful process
easier for families.
858
00:40:57,800 --> 00:40:59,900
Romane's mother, Jasmine,
says when walking home
859
00:41:00,133 --> 00:41:02,934
past the scene of the crime,
she'll often touch this tree,
860
00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:04,900
a little hello
to her daughter.
861
00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:07,934
I'm writing a book right now.
862
00:41:08,100 --> 00:41:12,200
I'm writing about
my experience with Romane.
863
00:41:12,367 --> 00:41:15,367
I feel her.
I can sense her energy.
864
00:41:15,533 --> 00:41:18,433
So that helped me a lot.
865
00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:21,433
And I want some people
who experience
866
00:41:21,600 --> 00:41:23,700
the same thing maybe helped.
867
00:41:25,133 --> 00:41:27,600
I'm preparing a documentary
868
00:41:27,767 --> 00:41:31,467
on twinless twins,
so twins that lost twins.
869
00:41:31,633 --> 00:41:33,767
♪ I'm still, I'm still
Jenny from the block ♪
870
00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:37,867
Me and Romane,
sometimes it would come up
871
00:41:38,033 --> 00:41:40,133
of like,
who's going to go first?
872
00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:42,867
And it would always end up
873
00:41:43,033 --> 00:41:46,500
in us bawling
in each other's arms
874
00:41:46,667 --> 00:41:51,600
because is it better to be
left alone or to leave?
875
00:41:51,767 --> 00:41:52,867
We were born together.
876
00:41:53,033 --> 00:41:57,166
It's kind of a new
concept almost for us
877
00:41:57,333 --> 00:41:59,700
to not to live
with the other.
878
00:41:59,867 --> 00:42:04,500
So I hope to help twins
879
00:42:04,667 --> 00:42:06,900
to make peace
with this grief.
880
00:42:07,066 --> 00:42:10,033
If her death
can change something
881
00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:13,900
in the lives of people,
you know,
882
00:42:14,066 --> 00:42:16,333
it wouldn't have been
completely in vain.
883
00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:20,734
It's Belle, the princess
from Beauty and the Beast,
884
00:42:20,900 --> 00:42:23,533
and it was
the favorite princess.
885
00:42:23,700 --> 00:42:26,667
When we went to Japan,
I brought her.
886
00:42:26,834 --> 00:42:28,667
I brought
the figurine with us.
887
00:42:28,834 --> 00:42:32,367
And I have a few pictures
in Japan with Belle
888
00:42:32,533 --> 00:42:35,433
in the middle
of the street as Romane.
889
00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:39,500
And during trial,
I had her also.
890
00:42:40,367 --> 00:42:41,667
How do you
want her to be remembered?
891
00:42:41,834 --> 00:42:43,133
How do you remember Romane?
892
00:42:43,300 --> 00:42:46,367
Romane, the princess,
the actress, the singer.
893
00:42:46,533 --> 00:42:50,367
♪ I've played all my card ♪
894
00:42:50,533 --> 00:42:53,266
♪ And that's what
you've done too ♪
895
00:42:53,433 --> 00:42:55,700
The wannabe Broadway star,
896
00:42:55,867 --> 00:42:58,600
and she had
the talent to do so,
897
00:42:58,767 --> 00:43:02,600
and this is
how I like to remember her.
898
00:43:02,767 --> 00:43:05,433
♪ The winner takes it all ♪
899
00:43:06,367 --> 00:43:09,333
♪ The loser standing small ♪
900
00:43:10,333 --> 00:43:13,000
♪ Beside the victory ♪
901
00:43:14,333 --> 00:43:17,667
♪ That's her destiny ♪
902
00:43:17,834 --> 00:43:21,467
I remember at the few days
after her death,
903
00:43:21,633 --> 00:43:24,500
I had this dream
where we were together,
904
00:43:24,667 --> 00:43:26,900
and I was
asking her a question,
905
00:43:27,066 --> 00:43:29,567
and she described me
what happened,
906
00:43:29,734 --> 00:43:32,100
and I asked her,
"Did you suffer?"
907
00:43:32,266 --> 00:43:34,800
And she said, "Oh, a little.
It went very fast.
908
00:43:34,967 --> 00:43:39,100
I went out of my body
in, like, less than a minute."
909
00:43:41,300 --> 00:43:44,266
She wanted
everyone to feel good.
910
00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:49,033
I think
that was her sole purpose.
911
00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:54,800
I want people to know
that she was kind-hearted
912
00:43:54,967 --> 00:44:00,133
and caring for more people
913
00:44:00,300 --> 00:44:02,667
than she could have
known in her life.
914
00:44:02,834 --> 00:44:07,300
Such a generous light...
915
00:44:07,467 --> 00:44:09,200
in this world.
916
00:44:09,367 --> 00:44:11,266
Just a wonderful soul.
917
00:44:11,433 --> 00:44:15,000
♪ I looked at the skies ♪
918
00:44:15,166 --> 00:44:18,133
♪ Running my hands ♪
919
00:44:18,300 --> 00:44:20,834
♪ Over my eyes ♪
920
00:44:22,767 --> 00:44:25,000
François Pelletier
has begun the process
921
00:44:25,166 --> 00:44:28,667
of appealing the guilty
verdict based on the argument
922
00:44:28,834 --> 00:44:31,100
that the trial judge aired
in his instructions
923
00:44:31,266 --> 00:44:32,867
regarding the murder,
924
00:44:33,033 --> 00:44:34,967
and more specifically
how his mental state
925
00:44:35,133 --> 00:44:38,633
was likely to negate
the specific intent to kill.
926
00:44:38,800 --> 00:44:41,400
Romane's family
keeps her memory close
927
00:44:41,567 --> 00:44:44,600
and plans to continue
advocating for justice reform
928
00:44:44,767 --> 00:44:47,033
and femicide awareness
in her honor.
929
00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:50,500
♪ The winner takes it all ♪
930
00:44:50,667 --> 00:44:54,000
♪ The loser has to fall ♪
931
00:44:54,166 --> 00:44:56,500
Thank you for joining us
tonight on Crime Beat.
932
00:44:56,667 --> 00:44:58,033
I'm Antony Robart.
933
00:44:59,567 --> 00:45:01,367
Want more episodes
of Crime Beat?
934
00:45:01,533 --> 00:45:04,233
Listen to the Crime Beat
podcast now for free
935
00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:06,767
on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
936
00:45:06,934 --> 00:45:09,233
or wherever you find
your favorite podcast.
937
00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:11,800
And for past episodes
of Crime Beat,
938
00:45:11,967 --> 00:45:15,800
go to the Global TV app,
visit GlobalTV.com,
939
00:45:15,967 --> 00:45:19,166
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