FREDERIC SERRE
The 1019 Report

The criminal case against Fabio Puglisi, charged with killing two women and injuring a third during a savage stabbing attack at a condo building in Vaudreuil-Dorion last February, returned to court June 20, when his lawyer requested a delay in proceedings so that his client can decide on a plea. Quebec Court Judge Bertrand St-Arnaud granted the request, and ordered Puglisi to return to court Aug. 22.

Puglisi, 44, who has had a history of mental illness and run-ins with the law since 2011, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault.

The victims of the brutal Feb. 15 attack at the Vela condominium complex on Émile Bouchard Street were identified as Puglisi’s mother, Élisabetta Puglisi-Caucci, 68; and her neighbour, Manon Blanchard, a retired Canadian Armed Forces officer. The third victim, Nighat Imtiaz, a woman in her 70s who lives in the same building, was also taken to hospital with stab wounds but has since recovered. Puglisi was arrested on the scene by police.

Puglisi did not appear at the Valleyfield courthouse on June 20, as he is being held at the Philippe-Pinel psychiatric institution in Montreal, but his lawyer, Alexandre Dubé, informed Judge St-Arnaud that his client understands the charges against him. The Crown, meanwhile, presented new evidence, which St-Arnaud said would be passed on to the defence. He then ordered all parties to return to court on Aug. 22, at which time Puglisi is expected to enter a plea, Dubé said.

Last February, after Puglisi was charged, a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation concluded that he was not fit to stand trial at that time. He was then ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment.

He returned to court in April after a new evaluation, which declared that he is fit to stand trial.

Just prior to his arrest last February, Puglisi appeared in court to answer to assault charges related to a separate incident involving domestic violence. He also had several run-ins with the law, including in 2011 involving accusations of assault causing bodily harm and, in 2018, for allegations of fraud. Each time he was declared not criminally responsible for his actions.