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
B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids
A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail.
Trump expected to name Marco Rubio secretary of state, reports say
Donald Trump selected U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to be his secretary of state, sources said on Monday, putting Rubio on track to be the first Latino to serve as America's top diplomat.
Northern Ontario teen recovering in hospital after being attacked; ex-boyfriend charged with attempted murder
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus was among approximately 120 people who gathered Sunday night for a candlelight vigil near the scene of a vicious attack against a 16-year-old in Cobalt.
23andMe cuts 40 per cent of its workforce, discontinues all therapy programs
Genetic testing firm 23andMe said on Monday it is reducing about 40 per cent, or 200 employees, from its workforce and discontinuing all its therapies.
'Your body, my choice': Attacks on women surge on social media following U.S. election
Sexist and abusive attacks on women, like 'your body, my choice' and 'get back to the kitchen,' have surged across social media since Trump’s reelection.
Dr. Ronald Weiss, Ottawa's 'Wayne Gretzky' of vasectomies, dies
Dr. Ronald Weiss, who performed nearly 60,000 vasectomies on Ottawa men, establishing him as the "Wayne Gretzky" of the procedure, has died.
Megan Fox is expecting a baby with Machine Gun Kelly
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are expecting to grow their family. Fox announced her pregnancy in a social media post Monday.
Montreal man facing first-degree murder in woman's death; accused was on bail after allegedly threatening her
A 36-year-old Montreal man who was out on bail after allegedly uttering death threats against his partner is now accused of murdering her on the South Shore.
Kitchener, Ont. teen facing 29 charges after serious threats made against schools, businesses and people
A 15-year-old boy from Kitchener, Ont. is facing a long list of criminal charges as the Waterloo Regional Police Service wraps up a lengthy swatting investigation.