They celebrated a marriage, a birth and many birthdays, with the mourning in the background: Fabienne Houde-Bastien’s family told court in his daily life since the pedestrian lost his life because of the imprudence of a drunk driver in May 2023.
VI Trung NGO admitted to having killed Fabienne Houde-Gastian and injured two men, leading with the weakened faculties in his guilt plea last January.
The tragedy took place on May 21, 2023. VI Trung NGO was then completely drunk. In fact, its alcohol level is three times higher than the legal threshold. The 49 -year -old mechanic leads the car of a client who had entrusted it to him for a mechanical breakage.
Photo Robert Skinner, Archives La Presse
VI Trung NGO admitted to having killed Fabienne Houde-Gastian and injured two men, leading with the weakened faculties in his guilt plea last January.
It rolls at 80 km/h on rue Jean-Talon, in Montreal. By burning a red light, he rushes to a vehicle on Boulevard Saint-Laurent. This highly reckless behavior causes the death of Fabienne Houde-Bastian who returned home after an evening with friends.
Observations on the sentence of VI Trung NGO were held on Tuesday at the Montreal courthouse in a packed room. A hearing marked by the poignant testimonies of members of the deceased family.
The departure of the 31 -year -old woman left a huge void in the life of her parents, Brigitte Houde and François Bastien.
Photo provided by Fabienne Houde-Bastien’s family
Fabienne Houde-Bastien
They have been living “on the automatic pilot” for over two years. “If I think about it, suffering paralyzes me,” the mother of the victim told court.
She spent her life explaining to her daughters to be careful on the road, not to drink and take the wheel. His daughter Fabienne listened to her good advice. She feared cars and recommended walking and cycling.
It was still by a car that she lost her life. We haven’t done anything wrong, but yet we have a sentence for life.
Brigitte Houde, mother of the victim
VI Trung Ngo did not make a simple mistake, she said. She compared the car that caused the accident to a loaded weapon. “He made the decision to drink and then drive. »»
Photo filed in evidence at the Court
Fabienne Houde-Bastian was walking around Jean-Talon and Saint-Laurent when VI Trung Ngo rushed to her with her car.
The father of the victim addressed his deceased daughter directly. “I miss you terribly,” he breathed tears in my eyes. The drama leaves after -effects: it starts at the slightest noise of horn, spends nightmarish nights, inhabited by a feeling of helplessness. He lives in the anxiety that a fellow misfortune strikes his family.
“The largest sentence is Fabienne who received it. We will never find her, ”summed up the victim’s sister Jasmine Houde-Bastien. Her children are deprived of their aunt, who organized “Best Friend Days” with his nephew and had an overflowing love for his niece. Mourning prevented her from being present for her family as she wanted, she said through crying.
Two other victims of the accident offered a declaration to the court. The two people, whose identities are protected by a prescription, described the terrible injuries caused by the collision.
Observations on the penalty in this case will continue this afternoon at the Montreal courthouse before judge Tristan Desjardins.
VI Trung Ngo remained free until very recently. The driver was arrested in early August for breaking his conditions. He is accused of two non-compliance with a court order for leaving a vehicle when he was not entitled and not having respected his curfew. These offenses would have occurred in October 2024.
