Serge Audette is convicted of manslaughter of Patricia Ferguson after 27 years in Montreal

Judge Dennis Galiatsatos convicted Serge Audette, 72 years old, of the manslaughter of Patricia Ferguson in a sentence handed down on Monday. Patricia Ferguson disappeared on June 6, 1996 in Pointe-aux-Trembles, when he was just 23 years old. The verdict ended a legal process that lasted approximately 27 years, marked by the lack of the victim’s body and the impossibility of the accused’s confession.

Judge Galiatsatos took approximately 2 hours to read the full sentence, based on multiple testimonies and circumstantial evidence presented during the trial. The ruling determined that Patricia Ferguson was dead and that Serge Audette was responsible for her disappearance and death.

Circunstâncias’s disappearance

Patricia Ferguson was last seen at a friend’s house in Pointe-aux-Trembles, where she was spending the night accompanied by her 11-month-old daughter, Sabrina. On the morning of June 7, 1996, her friend discovered a note left by Patricia Ferguson stating that he had gone out to lunch and would meet his sister. Ela never returned.

At the time of his disappearance, Serge Audette had an extensive criminal record. Havia was declared a dangerous criminal and recently released from prison after serving a 10-year sentence for sexually assaulting a hitchhiker. Seu’s profile as a dangerous individual reinforced the investigation into his possible involvement in the case.

Protected informant decisive Depoimento

The conviction rested primarily on the testimony of an informant whose identity remains protected — a friend of Serge Audette who heard him confide while they were both detained in Penitenciária from Archambault in 2022. Segundo said this testimony, Audette said:

• The police would never find the victim’s body
• Ele had been angry with Patricia Ferguson on the night of the events
• Era responsible for her disappearance

Judge Galiatsatos considered the complainant a credible witness, noting that he had no motivation to lie, as he never claimed the $10,000 reward offered by the Sun Youth organization. Diversos collateral elements corroborated the confidences made in prison, according to the judge’s conclusions.

Investigação covered up without confession

An undercover operation was launched after the informant reported his friend. Contudo, the covert investigation was unable to extract a confession from Serge Audette or make him voluntarily repeat what he had confided in his cellmate. Apesar of this evidentiary limitation, the judge determined that the circumstantial and testimonial evidence was sufficient for conviction.

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Judge Galiatsatos answered 4 fundamental questions during the trial:

• Was Patricia Ferguson deceased?
• Did Como die?
• Was Quem responsible for his death?
• Was Qual the state of mind of the person responsible at the time of the crime?

On all issues, the judge concluded affirmatively that Patricia Ferguson was dead, had been murdered by Serge Audette, and that he acted with culpability in the form of manslaughter.

Impacto emotional and next phases

Reading the sentence was extremely difficult for Sabrina, the victim’s daughter, who never knew her mother and is now 30 years old. Ela left the courtroom several times during the session and broke down in tears when the verdict was announced. The public prosecutor’s office celebrated the decision: “Thirty years later, justice has been served.”

Serge Audette was arrested on June 1, 2023 and remains in detention. The judge ordered his immediate arrest after the verdict, considering the family’s prolonged suffering. Como Audette is already classified as a dangerous criminal and will receive a substantial sentence. The prosecution will seek life in prison during the sentencing recommendation phase.

Pierre-Olivier Bolduc, a lawyer representing the family outside of court, said: “It is a relief for the victim’s family. Também we want to emphasize the resilience they have shown throughout this entire process.”