Montreal man convicted of 1st-degree murder of woman he briefly dated

François Pelletier has been found guilty of the first-degree murder of Romane Bonnier, 24, whom he killed in October 2021 after they had a brief relationship.

The verdict was delivered by the jury Tuesday, at the Montreal courthouse, following four days of deliberations.

First-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole for 25 years.

The jury accepted the Crown's version of events, which showed the killing was premeditated, and rejected Pelletier's defence. He had claimed he felt compelled to kill the young woman, suggesting mental health problems were behind the act.

Speaking at the courthouse, Bonnier's parents said they were satisfied with the verdict, despite the long and painful process. Her father Guy Bonnier said Pelletier can't do anything to anyone else and for them, that's the most important thing.

"Justice has been served in our view," said Crown prosecutor Marianna Ferraro.

Pelletier represented himself during the trial. Two court-appointed lawyers were named by the presiding judge, François Dadour, to assist him.

The murder occurred in the middle of the afternoon, in front of witnesses, on Aylmer Street near Milton Street in the Plateau–Mont-Royal borough. It was captured on video by bystanders and surveillance cameras.

Pelletier had briefly dated Bonnier after meeting her when they became roommates. He killed her a month following their breakup. He was 36-years-old, at the time.

That day, he followed her home from work and stabbed her about 20 times in the upper body. She died of her injuries in hospital a few hours later.

Bonnier was a singer and actor who had graduated from Marianopolis College four years earlier.

The killing prompted a march in her memory and in protest against violence toward women.