MONTREAL - Two young people accused of robbing poker champ Jonathan Duhamel will remain in jail pending trial.
John Stephen Clark Lemay, 22, and Duhamel's ex-girlfriend Bianca Rojas-Latraverse, 20, were denied bail Tuesday for their alleged involvement in the Dec. 21 robbery at Duhamel's Boucherville home. The poker player was badly beaten in the robbery.
The thieves took off with $115,000 in cash, Duhamel's Rolex watch and his bracelet for winning the 2010 World Series of Poker championship in Las Vegas. The title came with a $9-million prize.
Justice Pierre Belisle described the crime as, "shocking, well-planned, and carried out in cold blood against a vulnerable man, using extreme violence to rob a large sum of money."
He referred to Rojas-Latraverse as the mastermind of the operation, adding that he felt there is solid evidence she planned the attack and robbery.
Prosecutor Nancy Delorme said she was pleased with the judge's decision to deny bail to Rojas-Latraverse.
"A robbery involving a home invasion is a serious aggravating factor," she said. "Without her actions, we wouldn't be here."
The court has yet to hear Rojas-Latraverse's side of the story, said her defence attorney.
"Many things can change once we present our defence," said the defence lawyer.
A third suspect, Anthony Bourque, 20, has been released pending trial. He is required to stay with his father, who is posting $5000 in bail.
"He hasn't got into trouble before," said Bourque's lawyer Christos Karteris. "He's basically a normal kid who has a good relationship with his parents."
A fourth man, André-Robert Perron, was released on bail after he was arrested in possession of the stolen Rolex. Most the $115,000 missing has yet to be recovered.
Duhamel did not attend the bail hearing, because he is attending a poker tournament in the Bahamas, where he's so far won several hundred thousand dollars.
The accused return to court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 21.
