20 YEARS GAOL
Kidnapper of Laporte
(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MONTREAL, Nov. 26.
Bernard Lortie, a 20-year-old trade school drop-out, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the kidnapping on October 10, 1970, of the Quebec Labour Minister, Pierre Laporte. He was given an additional six months sentence for contempt of court. It is to be served consecutive to the 20-year term. Laporte was found strangled to death on October 18 in suburban St Hubert.
Lortie was quiet and composed during the hour-long court appearance. As he was led from the courtroom, however, he raised a clenched fist and shouted: “Vive le Quebec fibre”—long live free Quebec. Mr Justice Bergeron told Lortie that he would be eligible for parole in seven years.
He is the first of four men charged with the kidnapping and slaying of Laporte, to be convicted and sentenced on the kidnapping charge. He is scheduled to begin trial for murder next month
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 23
Word Count
15720 YEARS GAOL Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 23
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