One of the accused who pleaded guilty to her role in the beating of two off-duty Montreal police officers a month ago near Émilie-Gamelin Park may face a stiffer sentence.
Mélina Geoffroy was back in court for what was supposed to be her sentencing hearing. The crown and the defence had previously announced a common suggestion of a suspended sentence and community work after she had pleaded guilty to assault causing bodliy harm.
But Geoffroy's lawyer, Claude Berlinguette, told the judge that things had changed since they had "new information" and that the proposed sentence was off the table.
In a common statement of facts at the time of Geoffroy's guilty plea, the court heard that the 20-year-old woman had kicked one of the officers who was lying on the ground.
Geoffroy later turned herself in to police along with video footage of the attack from her cellphone. Berlinguette said doing so may have been "naive" and that her client didn't do it to incriminate anyone else. She said since her client pleaded guilty, Geoffroy has received threats and is "very scared."
Crown prosecutor Sacha Blais would not say what changed their position regarding the common sentencing recommendation but told CJAD 800 that they are "still looking to suggest a sentence but for now, we have a different view of the case."
Berlinguette said what the crown wanted was more "drastic" than previously proposed.
Geoffroy is back in court in a month.
Six other accused, including two minors, face similar charges.