The True Post (Web News)François Pelletier, 39, who was found guilty of murdering 24-year-old singer and actress Romane Bonenfant, was sentenced on Monday by a Montreal court to life in prison for first-degree murder, with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.
Outside the court, Romane’s close friend Marikem Allard said:
“It’s over now, and justice has been served. But I’ve lost a friend, a sister. The verdict is in, but she will never come back.”
Crown prosecutor Mariana Ferraro, commenting on the ruling, said:
“This sentence was expected because it was legally mandatory, but we are satisfied with the court’s comments and reasoning, which condemned Pelletier’s character and behavior throughout the trial.”
The horrific incident occurred on October 19, 2021, when Pelletier stabbed Romane more than 25 times near McGill University in Montreal, in full view of eyewitnesses. Romane was an emerging artist — a singer and actress — whose life had only just begun.
Three years later, following a month-long trial and three days of jury deliberation, Pelletier was found guilty last month. He represented himself in court and attempted to claim “not criminally responsible” due to mental illness, but that defense was undermined by expert psychiatric testimony presented by the prosecution.
In June, while testifying, Pelletier himself admitted:
“I killed Romane. I stabbed her 26 times. It was a premeditated act I called ‘Operation Wraith of Heaven.’ But there are facts that need to be seen in the right context.”
Before sentencing, a letter from Romane’s twin sister, Marilou, was read in court, expressing her grief and heartbreak. Romane’s brother, mother, and friend Marikem Allard also gave emotional statements.
Marikem said We had 22 years of friendship that was tragically cut short. She was a singer, a dancer, a joyful spirit. Her life had just begun, and it was stolen from us.”
Marikem’s father, Pierre Allard, added:
“She was a talented and intelligent young woman, taken from us in a brutal way
During his own statement in court, Pelletier showed little remorse for Romane’s murder. Instead, he spoke about a book he had written, which the judge dismissed as irrelevant to the trial, refusing to accept it as evidence.
