A judge has ordered Guy Turcotte free on bail while awaiting his second trial for killing his children.
Turcotte admitted long ago to stabbing his children Olivier, 5, and Anne-Sophie, 3, while at his home in St. Jerome in 2009.
Now a judge says Turcotte is a manageable risk if released, and would show up at future court dates.
The judge also said Turcotte's medical record shows he has had mental health issues, but that they have well-regulated, and so Turcotte should be free during his trial.
Turcotte's ex-wife Isabelle Gaston was not in court, but her brother was, and he was outraged by the decision.
Patrick Gaston could not contain his anger inside the courtroom and security pulled him out of the room at which point he launched into a tirade against Turcotte and the bail decision.
Crown prosecutor René Verret said society should respect the decision.
"Of course it was not the conclusion that we were looking for but we have to make, I repeat myself, we have to be respectful, we have to show respect for the judgment that was rendered," said Prosecutor René Verret.
Victim's rights advocate Michel Surprenant denounced the decision to grant Turcotte bail.
"I understand the presumption of innocence but Turcotte has to have a minimum of regret for his actions. If we felt that there was a minimum of pain in that man perhaps we could understand that he made a mistake in his life," said Surprenant. "But his is only preoccupied by himself."
The dead children's uncle Patrick Gaston was irate as he left the courtroom after the decision was announced.
Gaston, who accused Turcotte of being a "sadistic manipulator," said that he doesn't believe that Turcotte shold have been permitted out.
"I don't feel safe with his release. That's my reality. Thank you," Gaston told reporters.
Lengthy history
A jury found Turcotte not criminally responsible for the crime in 2011 and he spent 18 months in a psychiatric institution before being released in 2012.
But in 2013 Quebec's Court of Appeal ruled the judge in the case had made an error in instructing the jury, and so ordered Turcotte to undergo a new trial, which is scheduled to take place next year.
Psychiatrists who treated Turcotte said that he went into major depression when he learned of the retrial.
He was said to have shown psychotic symptoms including paranoia, he thought a guard was after him and he’d hide in his room.
Last week at his bail hearing Turcotte said he had been through a "dark period" and had been threatened and harassed by other inmates following his arrest, but improved after being transferred to the Pinel Institute.
He also said he has a strong support system in his family and friends, and wanted to be freed to care for his aunt and uncle.
