CBC.ca

Sex assault charges added in Quebec kidnapping case

Fri Jul 18, 1:10 PM

MONTREAL (CBC) - A Quebec man accused of kidnapping an eight-year-old boy in broad daylight now faces new sexual assault charges, prosecutors said.

Pierre Defoy, 50, was due back in court on Friday for a bail hearing on the kidnapping charges but procedures will be delayed because of the new allegations.

The Lévis resident faces charges of sexual assault causing bodily harm, criminal assault putting a life in danger, and invitation to sexual touching involving a child under 14.

Defoy, a janitor, was arraigned earlier this week on kidnapping and illegal confinement charges following an incident on Tuesday night in Lévis, a South Shore suburb of Quebec City.

The eight-year-old boy was playing with friends on the street when a car pulled up, a man jumped out, grabbed the child and stuffed him into the trunk.

An eyewitness tried to stop the car but told police the Chevrolet sped off toward Quebec City. Police set up roadblocks in the area and prepared an Amber Alert.

Less than a half-hour later, another eyewitness, Ryan Murphy, was sitting in traffic when he saw the trunk of the car stopped ahead of him pop open.

Murphy caught a glimpse of a boy in the trunk before the car sped off. He followed the car to an apartment building, where the driver took the boy inside.

Murphy called police, who found the boy bound, gagged and locked inside a nearly-empty heating oil tank in the basement.

Defoy's lawyer has asked for psychiatric evaluation.

Crown prosecutors have indicated they will vigorously oppose his release on bail.

The eight-year old is recovering slowly from his traumatic experience, said his older brother, who spoke with reporters Thursday evening.

With files from the Canadian Press

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