Bombing 'For Kicks'

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30156, 13 June 1963, Page 13

Bombing 'For Kicks'

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MONTREAL, June 12. Yves Labonte, an 18-year-old shipping clerk, said yesterday he and another youth planted the bomb that killed a nightwatchman “for kicks.”

He denied placing the bomb for the Front de Liberation (F.LQ), the terrorist organisation which has been blamed for bombings in Quebec province. Labonte, a slightly-built, blond youth, seemed near collapse as he gave evidence The inquest was inquiring into the death of Wilfred O’Neill on April 20 Labonte identified Jacques Giroux as the youth who was with him. Monument Plan He said he had been asked by Raymond Villeneuve to place the bomb at the MacDonald Monument in Dominion square, Montreat but they finally deposited it beside a wall at the rear of the army recruiting centre. Labonte said Villeneuve told him the next day about O’Neill’s death, adding:

"He told me it was not serious because he was English. If he had been French it would have been more serious." Labonte was examined by the Crown lawyer, Mr G. Desjardins. on his statement that he was not an F.L.Q. member. “You did it for fun?” asked Mr Desjardins.—“Yeah" •Not for the FLQ?”— "Naw.” “For a kick’”—“Yeah." F.L.Q. Evidence A statement attributed to Gabriel Hudon, a 21-year-old industrial designer, said he met two F.L.Q members, known as Yvon and Jacques, at 8 pan. on April 20 and turne 1 over to them the bomb that killed O’Neill It said Hudon left the Rassemblement Pour l lndependanee Narttonale, a recognised separatist group, in December. 1962, because it had become a political party, and became a member of the F.L.Q. in February. 1963 It said Hudon "preferred acts of violence” and, described his FJLQ. job as the maker of time bombs Another development yesterday was the sentencing for contempt of Court of George Schoeters. aged 33, self-styled “co-ordinator” of the terrorist activities. He refused to

name other members of the F.LQ. The Coroner. Mr Trahan, sentenced him to a month in gaol. Lawyers said Schoetera could be sentenced 4or similar terms indefinitely as long as he refused to answer. “I do not want to give the names.” said Schoetecs, who is a Belgian-born economics student. “In all conscience I cannot do so.” Lawyers Walk Out Schoeters’s sentence came after a mass walk-out by the 10 lawyers representing 15 FL Q members held as witnesses in the inquest. The Coroner had prohibited them from speaking. In spite of promises by both the Coroner and Mr Desjardins that he had the protection of the Court, provided he told “the whole truth.” Schoelers refused and was sentenced. Some persons in the body of the Court applauded and were escorted outside by policemen. The lawyers who walked out later appeared before Mr Justice Andre Sabourin, at the Quebec Superior Court, to ask for a writ to halt the inquest. Some of the lawyers had protested that they were unable to speak to their cliemta.