Soldier charged with 2010 Brandon murder; pleads guilty to manslaughter

[old medic]

Soldier charged with Brandon murder
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
05 Feb 2010
copy at: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2010/02/05/12765411.html

BRANDON — A Manitoba-based soldier who has been in the Canadian Forces for about a year has been charged with second-degree murder.

Jason John Ouimet, a gunner at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, is charged in last month’s death of a 21-year-old male in Brandon, Man.

The 28-year-old soldier is a member of the 1 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.

Police say the body of Duane John Lacquette was found in the basement of his home on Jan. 16 and that he had died of blunt-force trauma to his upper body.

Lori Truscott, a spokeswoman for the base east of Brandon, says any disciplinary action by the military is dependent on the outcome of a court trial.

- latest mod edit to update headline to latest status -

 

[old medic]

Soldier charged with murder in Brandon
By Thandi Fletcher, Canwest News ServiceFebruary 5, 2010
http://www.canada.com/business/Manitoba+based+soldier+charged+with+murder/2527324/story.html

A Canadian Forces member has been charged with second-degree murder in Brandon, Man.

Jason John Ouimet, 28, a gunner with the First Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, was arrested by Brandon police Thursday in the death of Duane John Lacquette, whose body was found Jan. 16 in a Brandon duplex.

An autopsy revealed the death was the result of blunt force trauma, Const. Ron Burgess, media relations officer for Brandon Police Service, said Friday.

In court Friday, Ouimet, offered a clear response of "Yes sir" when his lawyer, Bob Harrison, asked him whether his language preference was English and "Yes ma'am" after the justice of the peace informed him his case is adjourned to Monday.

Ouimet, a stocky man with a shaved head, said nothing else. He remains in custody.

"Whether or not he faces any disciplinary repercussions from the Canadian Forces hasn't been determined," said Lori Truscott, media spokeswoman for CFB Shilo. "The Canadian Forces will await further evidence from civilian court proceedings prior to determining what actions are warranted."

Ouimet, who has not served in Afghanistan or been deployed on other operations, has been in the Canadian Forces for a year and was posted to CFB Shilo outside Brandon. Shilo is his first posting.

A memorial group page set up on Facebook for Lacquette, nicknamed "Jon Jon" by those close to him, had more than 1,500 members.

"I thought after the police arrested someone that somehow things would seem better or that my anger would go away, but that is so not the case and I now have more questions than before," writes one member on the memorial page. "Missing you Jon Jon."

Lacquette's friend and former roommate, Jordan Epp, said Friday he was relieved to hear of an arrest.

Police say the accused was not well-known to Lacquette.

Lacquette grew up in Mallard — a small Manitoba community located about 120 kilometres north of Dauphin on the southeast corner of Waterhen Lake — but moved to Brandon to work after graduating from high school in Dauphin.

Lacquette's death is Brandon's first homicide of the year.

With files from Ian Hitchen of the Brandon Sun

Monday, February 8th, 2010
NEWS UPDATE — Murder suspect in court Tuesday
Brandon Sun
http://www.brandonsun.com/story.php?story_id=184395

Jason John Ouimet is being held in custody pending a bail hearing in the Court of Queen's Bench scheduled for tomorrow.

Ouimet, a CFB Shilo-based soldier, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Duane Lacquette.

Duane’s body was found inside his home in the 3600-block of Centennial Boulevard last month.

 

[old medic]

Shilo soldier released on bail
By THE CANADIAN PRESS
09 Feb 2010
copy at : http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2010/02/09/12812696.html

BRANDON — A Manitoba-based soldier charged with second-degree murder has been released on bail.

Jason John Ouimet, a member of the 1 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, is charged in last month’s death of a 21-year-old male in Brandon.

Ouimet, 28, must meet several conditions, including report to military police at CFB Shilo and live on base while following a curfew.

Police say the body of Duane John Lacquette was found in the basement of his home on Jan. 16 and that he died from blunt-force trauma to his upper body.

Eugene Lacquette says he’s unhappy that the man accused of killing his nephew will be able to walk around and sleep in his own bed.

Ouimet’s next court date is scheduled for March 8.

 

[kratz]

CBC.ca has been having a field day the past two weeks posting all the negative news they can find on the CF.

They do not allow comments on the Col Williams news reports, but comments are open for the Gunner Ouimet or ND news reports.

Soldier charged with murder back at work
Allowed to use weapons under supervision
Last Updated: Thursday, February 18, 2010 .



The family of a young Manitoba man recently beaten to death is outraged that his accused killer — a Canadian Forces soldier — has been granted bail and is being allowed supervised access to weapons while continuing his military training.

Jason John Ouimet, 28, who is based in Shilo, Man., is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Duane Lacquette, 21.

Lacquette's body was discovered in the basement of his rented home in the quiet western Manitoba community of Brandon on Jan. 21. Police said he died of blunt-force trauma.

Ouimet — a member of the First Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery — was arrested and charged with Lacquette's killing on Feb. 4. He's been in the military for one year and has not been deployed on any tour of duty, CFB Shilo spokeswoman Lori Truscott said.

Justice Robert Cummings of Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench agreed to release Ouimet on $5,000 cash bail and a $10,000 surety five days after his arrest.

The Crown did not oppose his release pending trial, saying it was reassured by the fact he would be supervised by officials on the army base.

The soldier was ordered to obey 52 separate bail conditions, including living at the base's barracks under a strict nightly curfew and abstaining from any alcohol or drugs.

During the daytime, however, Ouimet is back in training and allowed to use weapons under the supervision of his instructors.

more at link.

 

[downhillslide]

Where does this stand now?Facts only please.

 

[Fatalize]

Where does this stand now?Facts only please.

He's not in jail, awaiting court.

Good guy, bad situation.

 

[mariomike]

update
Apr. 30 2012

"Deal between Crown, defence sees Shilo soldier plead guilty to lesser charge for Brandon killing":
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120430/wpg_brandon_killing_120430/20120430/?hub=WinnipegHome

 

[old medic]

Soldier gets 5 years for manslaughter

By Dean Pritchard ,Winnipeg Sun
07 June 2012

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2012/06/07/soldier-to-be-sentenced-for-manslaughter

BRANDON — Jason Ouimet was a young soldier with a promising future and a Canada Games-winning boxer.

Now he’s on his way to prison, convicted of manslaughter in the strangulation death of 21-year old Duane Lacquette.

“You’ve taken something very precious away from a grieving family,” Justice John Menzies told Ouimet before sentencing him Thursday to five years in prison.

Lacquette’s mother and other family members sobbed uncontrollably at the conclusion of the hearing.

Court heard Ouimet had been drinking at Lacquette’s home in January 2010 when he fell asleep, and awoke to find Lacquette sexually assaulting him.

“Infuriated by this unwelcome sexual touching, (Ouimet) choked him to death,” Crown attorney Jim Ross told court.

Ouimet “could easily have subdued and punished the smaller Duane Lacquette without killing him ... but Mr. Ouimet was acting in the grip of a fury.”

Ouimet met Lacquette for the first time earlier that evening at a local bar and was among several people Lacquette invited to his home after the bar closed. Ouimet and Lacquette were the only people left in the house at the time of the killing.

Ouimet did not kill Lacquette because of his sexual orientation, defence lawyer Roberta Campbell said. Ouimet knew Lacquette was gay and had turned down a sexual proposition earlier in the evening.

“This was not a situation that developed because Duane Lacquette was gay,” Campbell said. “This was a reaction to being sexually assaulted.”

Ouimet confessed to the killing a day later to a soldier friend. Ouimet was arrested two weeks later.

The five-year sentence was jointly recommended by the Crown and defence on the basis Ouimet was provoked.

“This is a voluntary manslaughter, a deliberate killing that has a reduced punishment because of the circumstances in which it occurred,” Ross said.

Ross said Ouimet’s version of events was supported by forensic evidence and Lacquette’s own personal history.

“The idea that Duane Lacquette would engage in sexually assaulting someone is intensely painful for the family,” Ross said. “Nonetheless, that is where all the evidence leads us.”

Family members said Lacquette (known affectionately as Jon Jon) was a loving man with “a heart as big as the world” who would never assault anybody. They said police and the media have maligned Lacquette as a rapist.

“We see Jon Jon different,” uncle Eugene Lacquette said outside court. “We stuck with that story from day one and we are sticking with that story today.”

 

[Jarnhamar]

Family members said Lacquette (known affectionately as Jon Jon) was a loving man with “a heart as big as the world” who would never assault anybody. They said police and the media have maligned Lacquette as a rapist.

Given the evidence I don't see how the police are 'at fault' for Lacquette being called a rapist.  As hurtful as it must be for the family the guy chose to do what he did.  Mind you I think Ouimet  obviously went overboard, acting "in the grip of fury" isn't an excuse.