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Man arraigned in Montreal on two counts of attempted murder in separate incidents

Feb 23, 2017 | 11:45 AM

MONTREAL — A Quebec man with a lengthy criminal record was charged Thursday with six counts stemming from two brazen shootings in Montreal earlier this month.

The prosecution described Jacques Bolduc, 56, as a man who could pose a danger to the public.

“Mr. Bolduc is someone who has a lengthy criminal history, he has received substantial prison sentences in the past and the potential danger to the public leads us to object to his release,” said prosecutor Martin Chalifour.

Bolduc was arraigned on two charges each of attempted murder, armed robbery and firearms-related infractions.

A tip from the public led to his arrest Wednesday in Saint-Donat, about 140 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

Police had asked the public for information after two people were shot during separate armed robbery attempts east of downtown Montreal on Feb. 6 and 7.

In the first incident, a man was shot in the chest after refusing to hand over his car keys and a cellphone. The next day, a woman was shot in the upper body during a robbery at a convenience store before the suspect fled into the subway.

One of his previous convictions carried a lifetime ban on carrying firearms, but Chalifour said charging him in connection with that was not a priority for now.

“It’s extremely secondary considering the gravity of the crimes he’s accused of today,” he said. “He faces a minimum of four years in prison on each charge and possibly life.”

Chalifour said Bolduc faces a long prison sentence if convicted and could be designated a dangerous offender given his prior convictions.

His last sentence ended in 2014, but he was under a peace bond that only expired last summer, Chalifour said.

Bolduc will return to court Friday to have a date set for a bail hearing.

 

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press