Man who spread hate, praised Polytechnique shooter has sentence hearing

Jean-Claude Rochefort, the man convicted in August of spreading hate toward feminists while he praised the shooter in the École Polytechnique massacre, shows little interest in rehabilitation, the judge presiding over his sentence hearing was told on Friday.

On Aug. 12, Rochefort, 73, of Montreal, was found guilty of inciting hatred in 2019 in the months leading up to the 30th anniversary of the date, Dec. 6, 1989, when Marc Lépine killed 14 women at École Polytechnique. He agreed to write a series of blogs criticizing feminists for an online group of incels, or involuntary celibate men.

Some of the blogs referred to Lépine as a saint and others featured doctored photos of Lépine holding a firearm. Professors who teach feminist studies at universities began to notice how they were mentioned in Rochefort’s blogs starting in September 2019.

The Montreal police were informed and began monitoring what Rochefort posted. The tipping point came the day before the 30th anniversary when Rochefort posted a blog that began with: “To all a happy December 6. The International Marc Lepine Day, December 6, is almost here again. By now all men should have their homes decorated. The lights should be up. The cards sent out, The carbines polished. A day of feasting, drinking, and celebrating.”

The Montreal police arrested Rochefort at his home in Montreal after he posted that blog.

Rochefort testified during his trial and claimed what he wrote was satire intended to criticize what he referred to as “extreme feminists” who commented on the massacre when anniversaries approached.

On Friday, Stéphanie Daigneault, a probation officer who interviewed Rochefort for hours to prepare for the sentencing stage of his case, told Superior Court Justice Pierre Labrie that he has done little in terms of reflection since he was found guilty.

“There is not a lot of advancement in terms of his reflection,” Daigneault said while recommending Rochefort be required to consult a psychologist and that he not be allowed to access the internet while he serves his sentence.

When Daigneault was cross-examined by defence lawyer Rodolphe Bourgeois she said Rochefort “now sees the criminal element” in what he wrote.

Melissa Blais, a professor at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), testified on Friday about how she felt when she discovered one of Rochefort’s blogs referring to her. She said she was uncomfortable being in the same room as Rochefort.

Blais testified during Rochefort’s trial and said she became very worried when he did not show up in court when jury selection was supposed to begin. Rochefort showed up late that day and said he ran errands at banks before he headed to the courthouse and arrived very late. Labrie ruled that Rochefort lost his right to be tried by a jury for his actions that day. Blais said she was worried when Rochefort didn’t show up and feared wanted to kill her for being a witness in his trial.

“I am worried about finding myself in front of someone who is convinced by the incitations of Mr. Rochefort to commit the same type of attack,” Blais said adding she lives in fear every time the anniversary of the massacre approaches.

“In 2020, I was teaching a course in anti-feminism at UQAM and I had that fear again at the start of a course. I scrutinized the students as they entered (the classroom) for a long time to try to sense their intentions and see if they showed signs of being nervous. I also scrutinized over the backpacks of the students to try to see if they were hiding weapons.”

Bourgeois and prosecutor Roxane Laporte have yet to say what sentences they are seeking for Rochefort.

This article will be updated.

pcherry@postmedia.com

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