Longueuil woman charged after 10-year-old boy scalded with boiling water
A woman from Montreal's South Shore appeared in court on Friday on charges of aggravated assault after allegedly scalding a 10-year-old boy with boiling water more than one week ago.
Friday morning, police in Longueuil, Que., re-arrested Stéphanie Borel, 46, who allegedly threw the water on the boy, to whom she is not related. Borel was initially arrested after the Oct. 2 incident but released with a promise to appear in court.
The decision to release her drew public outcry, with an advocacy group accusing police of being lenient toward a woman accused of assaulting a Black child. On Thursday, the Red Coalition, a Montreal-based lobby group that focuses on fighting racism, wrote a letter to Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier and police Chief Marc Leduc calling for Borel to be taken into custody.
"We ask you to consider, for a moment, if the roles had been reversed — if a Black man had thrown boiling water on a 10-year-old white girl," wrote executive director Joel DeBellefeuille. "It is hard to imagine that he would have been allowed to go free while awaiting trial. Instead, he would likely have been detained immediately, facing serious legal consequences from the outset."
The boy was transported to hospital to be treated for burns to his upper body.
In a statement, the police department said that after further investigation, Crown prosecutors requested that Borel be re-arrested on Friday.
Following the call for her to get involved in the case, Fournier said on social media Thursday that it's very rare for the legal criteria to be met to justify a suspect's detention even before an investigation has begun. "I could never, as an elected official, ask to review a police or judicial decision, much less demand somebody's detention," she wrote. "That would be illegal."
Longueuil police say they have taken steps to reassure the community and the boy's school, and that Quebec's help centre for victims of crime has been in touch with the family.
Borel briefly appeared in court in Longueuil on Friday afternoon, and a bail hearing was set for Oct. 16. Afterward, Crown prosecutor Gabriella St-Onge told reporters she objected to Borel's release in part to preserve public confidence in the administration of justice. "We feel it's necessary that (her detention) be for the duration of the process," she said.
St-Onge also pointed out that she opted for a charge of aggravated assault, which is a "more serious offence" than the charges of assault causing bodily harm and armed assault that police had originally suggested.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, dies at 91
Quincy Jones, the multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson's historic 'Thriller' album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, has died at 91.
Trump says he 'shouldn't have left' the White House as he closes campaign with increasingly dark message
Donald Trump, who said in Pennsylvania on Sunday that he regrets leaving the White House in 2021, is ending the 2024 campaign the way he began it – dishing out a stew of violent, disparaging rhetoric and repeated warnings that he will not accept defeat if it comes.
Poilievre asks premiers to axe their sales taxes on new homes worth under $1 million
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to the provinces' premiers, asking them to eliminate their sales taxes on new homes that are under $1 million.
No strike notice so far as talks continue between Canada Post and workers' union
Canada Post says talks are continuing with the union that represents postal workers and neither side has given notice of a work stoppage.
Where should Canada look to improve its housing situation? The answer may shock you
Housing experts argue widespread adoption of government-supported affordable housing, the growth of alternative models like co-operatives and co-housing, and the increased use of advanced building techniques could all play a role in improving Canada's housing system.
James Van Der Beek says he has colorectal cancer
The 'Dawson’s Creek' alum told People magazine in a statement published Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.
At least 36 dead after overcrowded and dilapidated bus skids into a deep gorge in northern India
A poorly maintained and overcrowded bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in northern India on Monday, killing at least 36 people and injuring several others, officials said.
New Brunswick inmate captured after Saint John jail escape through fence: police
Police in New Brunswick say an inmate who escaped from a jail in Saint John by squeezing through a fence is back in custody.
Utility says power back on in Kimmirut after days-long outage
Power has been restored to a Nunavut hamlet on Baffin Island following a days-long outage that began on Thursday.