Jean-Pierre Bonin
Encyclopedia
Jean-Pierre Bonin was a judge
in the Canadian
province of Quebec
.
, Rhode Island
, in the United States of America. He studied law at the Universite de Montreal
and was called to the bar of Quebec in 1967. He completed a master's degree
in law in 1978 and was appointed as the chief crown prosecutor for Montreal
the following year.
In 1978, Bonin was the crown prosecutor against Jacques Cossette-Trudel
and Louise Lanctôt
, former members of the Front de libération du Québec
(FLQ) who pleaded guilty to the kidnapping of United Kingdom
diplomat James Cross
. Over the next four years, he prosecuted separate cases against former FLQ members Alain Allard, Nigel Barry Hamer, Marc Carbonneau, and Yves Langlois
.
Bonin also prosecuted the trial of Claude Vermette, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) officer who was charged with committing illegal activities in the line of duty, in the early 1980s. The trial drew attention to several illicit RCMP activities in Quebec during the 1970s. The case ended in a mistrial after Quebec premier
René Lévesque
criticized a trial witness during a legislative
debate.
judge in July 1983. In 1986, he oversaw a high profile preliminary hearing of five persons accused of attempting to blow up Air India Flight 112
. (This is not to be confused with the more prominent trials that took place concerning the destruction of Air India Flight 182
.)
Bonin was later promoted to head the criminal division of the Court of Quebec
in September 1988. In June 1996, he was appointed by the government of Quebec
to hold a closed-door inquiry into the Sûreté du Québec
(SQ), following widespread accusations of corruption in the force. The inquiry ultimately became ground down in acrimony among the various parties, and Bonin resigned in October 1996 after a burglary in his office. The government of Quebec subsequently called a public inquiry into the matter. In 1998, Bonin oversaw a preliminary hearing into charges against Canadian Hell's Angels leader Maurice Boucher
.
Bonin oversaw several high-profile cases in his last years. In 2004, he was the presiding judge who oversaw prominent Montreal businessman Irving Grundman
's guilty plea in a municipal corruption case. Four years later, Canadian mafia
leader Nicolo Rizzuto
admitted before Bonin's court that he was a member of a criminal organization. As the result of a plea bargain, Rizzuto received only a suspended sentence and probation; Bonin later imposed a $209,000 fine on Rizzuto in a separate case involving tax evasion
.
Bonin delivered a verdict in 2007 that recognized a small street gang as a criminal organization. This was generally regarded as reducing the threshold for achieving convictions in organized crime
trials.
, Ontario
. He was remembered as an extremely hard working judge and an institution in Quebec's legal system.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
Early life and career
Bonin was born in WoonsocketWoonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, in the United States of America. He studied law at the Universite de Montreal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
and was called to the bar of Quebec in 1967. He completed a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in law in 1978 and was appointed as the chief crown prosecutor for Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
the following year.
In 1978, Bonin was the crown prosecutor against Jacques Cossette-Trudel
Jacques Cossette-Trudel
Jacques Cossette-Trudel Jacques Cossette-Trudel Jacques Cossette-Trudel (born 1947 in Shawinigan, PQ, convicted kidnapper, Quebec separatist (FLQ), communication counsellor and filmmaker.Jacques Cossette-Trudel was the son of a senior Federal Government official with the Department of Energy during...
and Louise Lanctôt
Louise Lanctôt
Louise Lanctôt, born March 24, 1947, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is a convicted kidnapper and writer.A political activist for the cause of Quebec independence from Canada, Louise Lanctôt was an active member of the Rassemblement pour l'indépendance nationale political party that later merged...
, former members of the Front de libération du Québec
Front de libération du Québec
The Front de libération du Québec was a left-wing Quebecois nationalist and Marxist-Leninist paramilitary group in Quebec, Canada. It was active between 1963 and 1970, and was regarded as a terrorist organization for its violent methods of action...
(FLQ) who pleaded guilty to the kidnapping of United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
diplomat James Cross
James Cross
James Richard Cross, CMG was a British diplomat in Canada who was kidnapped by the Front de libération du Québec terrorist group during the October Crisis of October 1970....
. Over the next four years, he prosecuted separate cases against former FLQ members Alain Allard, Nigel Barry Hamer, Marc Carbonneau, and Yves Langlois
Yves Langlois
Yves Langlois a.k.a. Pierre Seguin was a Canadian terrorist and member of the Quebec terrorist group Front de Libération du Quebec , a group most notably known for the 1970 October crisis...
.
Bonin also prosecuted the trial of Claude Vermette, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP) officer who was charged with committing illegal activities in the line of duty, in the early 1980s. The trial drew attention to several illicit RCMP activities in Quebec during the 1970s. The case ended in a mistrial after Quebec premier
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
criticized a trial witness during a legislative
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
debate.
Judge
Bonin was appointed as a Quebec Sessions CourtSessions Court
A Sessions Court is a court of law which exists in several Commonwealth countries.-India:In Indian cities, the Sessions Court is responsible for adjudicating matters related to criminal cases. The court is responsible for cases relating to murders, theft, dacoity, pick-pocketing and other such cases...
judge in July 1983. In 1986, he oversaw a high profile preliminary hearing of five persons accused of attempting to blow up Air India Flight 112
Air India Flight 112
In May 1986, five Canadian Sikhs were charged with plotting to blow up Air India Flight 112 in New York City. Ostensibly members of Babbar Khalsa, two were convicted and given life sentences, while three others were released...
. (This is not to be confused with the more prominent trials that took place concerning the destruction of Air India Flight 182
Air India Flight 182
Air India Flight 182 was an Air India flight operating on the Montreal–London–Delhi route. On 23 June 1985, the airplane operating on the route a Boeing 747-237B named after Emperor Kanishka was blown up by a bomb at an altitude of , and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean while in Irish airspace.A...
.)
Bonin was later promoted to head the criminal division of the Court of Quebec
Court of Quebec
The Court of Quebec is the Provincial Court of the Canadian province of Quebec.The Court is divided into the following areas; The Civil Division, The Criminal and Penal Division, and The Youth Division. The Chief Judge of the Court of Quebec is Guy Gagnon....
in September 1988. In June 1996, he was appointed by the government of Quebec
Government of Quebec
The Government of Quebec refers to the provincial government of the province of Quebec. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
to hold a closed-door inquiry into the Sûreté du Québec
Sûreté du Québec
Sûreté du Québec or SQ is the provincial police force for the Canadian province of Québec...
(SQ), following widespread accusations of corruption in the force. The inquiry ultimately became ground down in acrimony among the various parties, and Bonin resigned in October 1996 after a burglary in his office. The government of Quebec subsequently called a public inquiry into the matter. In 1998, Bonin oversaw a preliminary hearing into charges against Canadian Hell's Angels leader Maurice Boucher
Maurice Boucher
Maurice "Mom" Boucher is a convicted murderer, reputed drug trafficker, and outlaw biker—the former President of the Hells Angels' Montreal chapter. Boucher led Montreal's Hells Angels against the rival Rock Machine biker gang during The Quebec Biker War of 1994 through 2002 in Quebec, Canada...
.
Bonin oversaw several high-profile cases in his last years. In 2004, he was the presiding judge who oversaw prominent Montreal businessman Irving Grundman
Irving Grundman
Irving Grundman is a former general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. He is also a former Montreal city councillor.He is founder and president of Laurentian Lanes. The company owns bowling alleys in Montreal, Ottawa and Kingston.-Hockey career:...
's guilty plea in a municipal corruption case. Four years later, Canadian mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
leader Nicolo Rizzuto
Nicolo Rizzuto
Nicolo Rizzuto , also known as Nick Rizzuto, was the crime boss of the Sicilian faction of the Italian Mafia in Montreal who later pushed out the Calabrian Cotroni family. Rizzuto was born in Cattolica Eraclea, Sicily, in 1924, and immigrated to Canada in 1954 when the family settled in Montreal...
admitted before Bonin's court that he was a member of a criminal organization. As the result of a plea bargain, Rizzuto received only a suspended sentence and probation; Bonin later imposed a $209,000 fine on Rizzuto in a separate case involving tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
.
Bonin delivered a verdict in 2007 that recognized a small street gang as a criminal organization. This was generally regarded as reducing the threshold for achieving convictions in organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
trials.
Death
Bonin died at age sixty-eight in 2010, after suffering a heart attack while attending a conference in LondonLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He was remembered as an extremely hard working judge and an institution in Quebec's legal system.