'He's still a child': Mother of slain teen wants rehabilitation, not revenge
Lynne Baudouy knows she'll never get her son back.
But resenting the teenager who killed him won't bring him back either, she says.
"If I hold anger and animosity within me, then I can't heal. I can't move on. And I'm no use as a parent to my other kids."
Her son, Lucas Gaudet, was stabbed in February during an altercation outside a high school on Montreal's West Island.
The 16-year-old died in hospital shortly afterwards.
On Tuesday, the accused, also 16, pleaded guilty to one charge of second-degree murder and one charge of aggravated assault.
His actions would change Baudouy's life forever -- but she doesn't want revenge.
Instead, she wants change.
"I truly do want this child to rehabilitate himself. To make himself a productive member of society," she told CTV News.
"He's still a child."
The boy was sentenced to three years in youth detention and two in community service.
It's a decision Baudouy is at peace with.
"I think he's just another misguided teenager. My gut feeling when they were reading the sentence was to go and give him a hug. He looked scared."
The Youth Protection Act prohibits the publication of any details that might identify the convicted.
RISE IN TEEN VIOLENCE
Quebec has witnessed a surge in youth violence over the past year, with Gaudet counted among its victims.
Lucas Gaudet was just 16 years old when he was stabbed during a conflict with numerous teenage boys. That list also includes Amir Benayad, 17, who was shot to death in the Plateau neighbourhood in January; Jannai Dopwell Bailey, 16, who was stabbed and killed last October; Thomas Trudel, 16, who was killed in November and Meriem Boundaoui, 15, who was shot in a drive-by in February 2021.
Their deaths have sparked calls for change from youth and adults alike, including Badouy.
In March, she participated in a demonstration honouring the victims and calling for more youth support.
"I wouldn't wish it on any parent to have to lose their child in such a violent, tragic way," she said at the time.
She now hopes that same support can be extended to the boy who killed her son.
"All I know is, this kid needs to be surrounded and supported in order for him to rehabilitate."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.