A bus driver who crashed into a daycare in Laval, Quebec which resulted in the deaths of two children and injured six more has been found not criminally responsible for his actions.
The Crown and the defence agreed that Pierre Ny St-Amand, 53, was not criminally responsible for the accident because he was experiencing a “break in contact with reality” during a state of psychosis.
Ny St-Amand was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in addition to charges of assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm in relation to six other children who were injured.
“In light of the evidence that was presented jointly, that was neither contradicted nor contested, it is undeniable that the bus driven by Pierre Ny St-Amand crashed into the daycare,” wrote Quebec Superior Court Justice Éric Downs in his decision.
“The court is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused was dealing with mental health issues, namely psychosis, at the time of the event.”
Ny St-Amand smashed the bus into the Laval daycare on Feb. 8, 2023, killing a five-year-old girl, a four-year-old boy and injuring six others.
According to psychiatrist Kim Bedard-Charette, Ny St-Amand experienced a “break in contact with reality” and later appeared to have no recollection of his actions
“We’re not able to talk to him. He doesn’t answer commands. He’s in his own world,” Bedard-Charette during the trial.
Following the crash, Ny St-Amand remained inside the crumpled bus and undressed while yelling incoherently before being subdued by parents on the scene.
Parents of the children affected by the tragedy were present in the courtroom and many burst into tears after Downs announced his ruling.
Several parents had already become angered that the case was not being given a jury trial, while others felt that their voices were not properly heard throughout the process.
While Downs said this decision doesn’t acquit or absolve Ny St-Amand, he did acknowledge that his ruling won’t help those hurt to understand the reason for this tragedy.
However, he said that a jury trial would have arrived at the same conclusion.
Two psychiatrists testified in the trial and independently concluded that Ny St-Amand was incapable of discerning right from wrong at the time of the crash because he was suffering from a mental disorder.
Bedard-Charette testified that Ny St-Amand had untreated post-traumatic stress disorder from his childhood as an orphan in war-torn Cambodia.
She said that he might have targeted the daycare as a way of “killing his own past.”
Video footage of the crash which makes it obvious that it was done deliberately was played in the courtroom.
“Once in a straight line into the parking lot, he accelerates toward the west side of the building,” said the prosecutor.
Mike Haddad, one of the parents who helped subdue Ny St-Amand, said it was troubling to see his reaction to the video.
“To see the accused with no remorse or nothing at all in his eyes, it’s shocking,” Haddad said, who found the verdict would be “difficult to accept” for families.
“If it’s not this person who should go to prison, then who should?” said Haddad.
The parents will have a chance to be heard on Thursday when the court allows them to deliver victim-impact statements. Many of them felt that Ny St-Amand had been portrayed as the victim throughout the trial.
The Crown will be seeking Ny St-Amand be declared a “high-risk accused,” a designation which would see him face stricter rules regarding absences from any treatment facility.