№00182

Michel Vienneau

Michel Vienneau, 51, was shot and killed by police officers in Bathurst, Canada.

He was killed in January 2015 when he came back from Montreal with his fiancée, Annick Basque. They were going to drive home when two armed men suddenly appeared in front of their car. They were later identified as constables Mathieu Boudreau and Patrick Bulger. They said Vienneau tried to drive away and to hit Bulger. Boudreau said he was afraid for Bulger’s life so he fired 4 shots at Vienneau and fatally wounded him.

Police said they received information that Vienneau was involved in drug trafficking, so they decided to arrest him. Later they found out he was not involved in it. The court did not bring charges against the officers. They were suspended and returned to work in 2020.

In May 2021, a coroner’s investigation was carried out and established that Vienneau was murdered, and his death was not an accident, as the investigation stated in 2015. Vienneau ‘s family hope that the coroners will find new evidence in this case. The investigation of the case continues.

СМИ

MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE CASE:

Arbitrator Joel Michaud said the police officers were conducting a plainclothes operation with unmarked vehicles, it was unclear if Vienneau knew Bulger and Boudreau were officers or believed they were “druggies or terrorists.”
Global News

After the crash, Basque said she heard indistinct yelling. She doesn’t remember anyone telling her she was being arrested for drug trafficking, although she did hear someone yelling, “Where are the drugs?”
CBC

FILES

CASE STATUS:

The initiative group has requested the clarification from Attorney General of Canada David T. Lametti and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. The initiative group believes it is important to fight against police brutality and, if necessary, will provide legal and financial assistance to the family of the victim.