The three men accused of having made a terrorist activity facilitated want to be released

The survey on release of the three individuals associated with the armed forces. Nevertheless, accused of having facilitated a terrorist activity opened Thursday in Quebec with a presentation of part of the imposing proof of the federal crown.

The three defendants were physically present at the courthouse for the first time since their indictment.

Menottés. Meanwhile, side by side in the accused box, Marc-Aurèle Chabot, Simon Angers-Audet and Raphaël Lagacé listened carefully over the day, mostly impassive. Meanwhile, The first was the most reactive of the three. Similarly, sketching a smile or reacting to certain evidence presented by the public prosecutor.

All the elements that the authorities attribute to Chabot. For example, Angers-Audet and Lagacé is however referred to by a non-publication order pronounced by the court.

Debate on non-publication

It should be noted. the order was initially requested by the public prosecutor, while it is generally by defense lawyers. One of the prosecutors of the federal crown on the file. M^e Gabriel Lapierre, justified this position by an obligation to “protect the law of the accused, and the prosecutor, to an impartial trial”.

“It would be much more difficult to find jurors who would not be aware of the file since they would have read the proof presented in the media. ” argued the prosecutor.

Faced with the challenge of a grouping of media. a debate to be held on the issue, the three defense lawyers on the file, three men accused having made which had initially indicated that they did not want the order, finally asked for it as a whole.

You should know that this provision of the code is compulsory when requested by the defendants, which closed the debate.

Several charges

Let us recall that Lagacé. 25, as well as Chabot and Angers-Audet, both aged 24, are targeted by a charge of having facilitated a terrorist activity between June 2021 and January 2024.

They also face many leaders in connection with the possession of firearms. military tactical equipment, including night vision glasses or laser aims. The first was a cadet shooting coach, while Chabot was an active member of the armed forces. As for Angers-Audet. he acted in the past as a reservist soldier, but was no longer a member of the forces at his arrest.

Matthew Forbes, 33, a corporal in the Canadian Armed Forces, was also arrested. However, it is only targeted by leaders in connection with firearms and not by that of terrorism. He was released under conditions last week, he who has to wear a GPS three men accused having made bracelet at all times.

The facts which are accused of individuals would have taken place in particular according to the indictment in Quebec and Montreal, then in Petawawa and Rolphton in Ontario.

In a press release published by the RCMP during the arrest of the suspects on July 8. the authorities argued that the group would have had the will to set up an anti -government militia. A search in connection with this case carried out in January 2024 had enabled three men accused having made the seizure of numerous firearms. ammunition, chargers and other tactical devices.

Federal police qualified in their communications the alleged activities of suspects “of violent extremism of an ideological nature”.

The survey on release must continue on Friday.

Judge René de la Sablonnière will then have to decide the evidence. the arguments heard to determine whether the defendants will be able to regain their freedom. Otherwise, their detention would be ordered until the end of legal proceedings.