MONTREAL — A Montreal man charged with murdering his wife in a suspected compassion killing was granted bail Friday.
Michel Cadotte, who is in his mid-50s, was charged in February with second-degree murder, one day after his wife, Jocelyne Lizotte, was discovered in cardiac arrest at a long-term care facility.
He told reporters moments after his release from detention he wanted "to move on to the next step. I am tired. I am drained."
Cadotte must abide by several conditions, which include living with his sister, taking prescription drugs, getting psychological support and paying a $10,000 guarantee.
On the day of his wife's death, Cadotte wrote on Facebook he had consented to a request for assisted death, had "cracked" and was waiting for police.
Elfriede-Andree Duclervil has suggested her client's alleged actions were driven by empathy and compassion.
She says Cadotte has received support from his family as well as the victim's and that her client does not represent a risk to society.
Duclervil said on Friday "the public would have been shocked if Cadotte was not released on bail."
She added that her client's case was a perfect opportunity for society to discuss a difficult subject.
"Our client is an occasion to debate something that is extremely difficult in society right now," Duclervil said.
"His situation is personal. He was someone who was physically and emotionally at the breaking point. No one condones what happened to Mrs. Lizotte. Unfortunately, Michel Cadotte was almost the only one there for her day in and day out.
"At one point, as he said in his testimony, he cracked."
The Canadian Press
