A Quebecer convicted this week in a triple domestic murder that left a woman and her two young children dead in a Montreal suburb will be sentenced at the end of this week, a Superior Court justice decided Wednesday.
Mohamad Al Ballouz was found guilty by a jury Monday of the second-degree murder of Synthia Bussières and the first-degree murder of their two sons, five-year-old Eliam and two-year-old Zac.
Al Ballouz, who was Bussières' husband at the time of the September 2022 killings but now identifies as a woman and goes by the name Levana, was also convicted of arson for setting the family condo in Brossard, Que., on fire.
The trial heard Bussières, 38, was stabbed 23 times and the boys were then killed before Al Ballouz consumed wiper fluid and set the fire to destroy evidence. He had removed the batteries from the smoke detectors in the unit. An autopsy was not able to establish the exact cause of the boys' deaths.
At least 11 of the stab wounds were classified as defensive wounds, which the Crown said shows Bussières fought for her life.
Al Ballouz had argued during the trial it was Bussières who killed the children before attacking Al Ballouz, a theory the jury quickly rejected.
Superior Court Justice Eric Downs heard a victim impact statement Wednesday from Bussières' mother, Sylvie Guertin, and sentencing arguments from the Crown. Prosecutors also called one of Bussières' friends and filed impact statements from first responders.
Guertin talked about the pain she has endured over the past two years and thanked everyone who helped ensure justice was done. "On Sept. 25, 2022, my life and that of my entire family was destroyed," she said.
"Your honour, I have no words to express to you the extent to which the accused, Mohamad Al Ballouz, has had a serious impact on my life, that of my family and that of Synthia's friends," Guertin added.
"Mohamad Al Ballouz's actions have caused me to bury my daughter and my two grandchildren."
Guertin also described the impact the trial had on her, listening to first responders and other witnesses describe the harrowing discovery of her daughter and grandchildren in the home.
"I don't know where you are Synthia, but surely you're with Eliam and Zac, and my mother's heart knows no one can make you suffer anymore," Guertin said through sobs.
The judge described Guertin's pain as "immeasurable" and praised her strength. "You are a victim three times, three deceased people, and also of a process that was very difficult," Downs said. "I wish you peace."
The first-degree murder convictions carry an automatic life sentence without possibility of parole for 25 years. What's left to decide is parole eligibility for second-degree murder, which can range from 10 to 25 years. The final decision will be largely symbolic as the total parole eligibility period cannot exceed 25 years.
The jury had suggested setting parole eligibility for the second-degree murder at 21 years while the Crown asked the judge for 18 to 22 years.
Al Ballouz, who chose not to be represented by a lawyer, lashed out at Bussières once more in a letter read as a final address to the judge Wednesday.
The remarks caused Guertin to storm out of the courtroom, and Downs quickly cut off Al Ballouz. Downs eventually banned the killer from addressing the court further and placed a publication ban on the letter, describing it as defamatory and slanderous.
Downs said he will rule on the sentence Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2024.
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
