By Canadian Press

Quebec cold case murder trial: Pathologist says teen victim died from strangulation

Jan 23, 2024 | 9:24 AM

A forensic pathologist has told a Quebec cold case murder trial that the 19-year-old victim died of strangulation.

Dr. Caroline Tanguay is testifying today in the Saguenay, Que., trial of Marc-André Grenon, who is charged with the first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault of Guylaine Potvin nearly 24 years ago. 

Potvin was found dead in April 2000 in her apartment in Jonquière, now part of Saguenay, some 215 kilometres north of Quebec City.

Tanguay, who did not conduct the autopsy on Potvin, says the injuries to the junior college student’s body included blunt trauma to her head, a bite mark on her left breast, and injuries around her neck and genital area. 

She led the jury through the original pathologist’s report that concluded Potvin died of asphyxia following a combination of manual and ligature strangulation. 

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The trial previously heard that Grenon, who has pleaded not guilty, was arrested 22 years after the crime after DNA on two drinking straws he had discarded was allegedly found to be a match with evidence from the crime scene.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press