MONTREAL - A 22-year-old man from St. Hubert was charged Monday with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a former girlfriend.

Simon Bonneville is charged in the death of 21-year-old Paula Pavica, who was found dead in the basement of her family's home on Oasis St. in Brossard early Sunday morning.

Bonneville is facing two involuntary charges: one for assault causing an involuntary homicide and the other for criminal negligence also resulting in involuntary homicide. He pleaded not guilty to both.

The young woman’s mother found the body around 4:00 a.m. face down on the floor in the basement of the home. The young woman’s mother was taken to hospital for nervous shock after the sad discovery.

Pavica went out Saturday night and returned home sometime between midnight and 4 a.m.

According to police, there were no signs of violence on the body and no indication anyone broke in. This led investigators to believe she knew whoever was with her when she died.

An autopsy was conducted on the victim, but so far tests have not determined the cause of death, however she was believed to be in good health before her sudden death.

Bonneville was arrested at his St. Hubert home on Sunday.

Pavica was the only child of Romanian immigrants and worked for two years as an interior-decoration consultant at Reno Depot,but was off work due to an injured thumb.

Neighbours on Oasis St. described the family as quiet, and were surprised by the news of her death.

"We were very shocked about the event itself but we are very sad about the family because she was the only kid and the parents are very nice and they don't deserve that," said neighbour Dave Charest.

Friends of the woman said she and Bonneville were in an on-again off-again relationship.

Many of her friends gathered at the Longueuil courthouse Monday when Bonneville was formally charged, and appeared shaken by her death.

Bonneville's lawyer Marie-Kettelyne Ruben said the death upset her client.

"Well of course he's shaken up by what's going on. He's trying to have everything sink in and he's taking everything one step at a time," said Ruben.

Bonneville has a history of prior arrests. One was for identity fraud – a case in which he was due back in court thisNovember. Two other charges were for drunk driving, in 2009 and 2010, and another for fabricating evidence in 2009.

This latest, most serious, charge of involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. There is no minimum sentence.

Before ordering him back to detention, the judge ordered Bonneville not to communicate with several people who knew him or the victim and were interrogated by police.

"He presented a certain risk, so we objected to his release. Considering his personal status and the nature of the offence, the gravity the nature of his relationship with the victim," said Crown prosecutor Julie Laborde.

His bail hearing has been set for Aug. 14th.