Crown makes case Jacques Delisle's wife didn't commit suicide
Former Quebec judge convicted of 1st-degree murder in death of his wife
A Quebec Crown prosecutor is trying to prove yet again that Jacques Delisle's wife could not have committed suicide.
The former judge was convicted of killing his wife Nicole Rainville in 2012 and is asking to be released from prison as he awaits a ministerial review of his case, a rare proceeding that could lead to a re-trial.
His defence hopes if this is the case, it will be able to prove Nicole Rainville committed suicide, and that Delisle should be set free.
Delisle walked into a Quebec City courtroom on Tuesday wearing a dark sports sweater and shackles on his ankles.
The 81-year-old listened intently as his lawyer, James Lockyer, questioned the crown's expert witness who was called to testify.
Guillaume Arnet a ballistics expert, explained the conclusions he came to after re-enacting several scenarios using the same gun model which killed Nicole Rainville, a Sterling 320.
Arnet said it was impossible the gun was fired at a 90-degree angle, as the defence is trying to prove.
He testified the physical evidence found on the body shows Rainville would not have been able to hold a gun to her temple in this manner.
''It's clear to me the report that was submitted by the defence was not accurate,'' Arnet testified on Tuesday.
Questions unanswered, defence says
James Lockyer started his cross-examination Tuesday afternoon, arguing Nicole Rainville's autopsy was incomplete and left several questions unanswered.
Lockyer confronted Arnet, asking him why he failed to take into consideration the fractures found on Rainville's right temple, which according to the defence suggest the bullet was fired at a perpendicular angle.
Arnet dismissed this theory during his testimony, saying a bullet could not have reached the other temple and travelled to the back of the brain, as suggested by the defence's lawyer.
"If I shoot a bullet in the wall, it would never do a ricochet to the back of the room. It's completely illogical."
The defence will continue its cross-examination on Wednesday morning.
Quebec Superior Court Justice Benoît Moulin has reserved three days for the hearing.