Man acquitted of decades-old murders settles lawsuit with Montreal and Quebec

Claude Paquin, a Quebec man who was acquitted in 2024 of a double murder that occurred in 1978, has settled a lawsuit against Montreal and the provincial government. The lawsuit, filed last year, alleged that law enforcement and justice system representatives were aware for decades that Paquin's conviction was based on false evidence.

Paquin was released from prison in 2024 after serving 18 years of a sentence and more than 23 years on parole under strict conditions. The city and province stated that the settlement aimed to help Paquin move on from a challenging period in his life. The settlement amount was not disclosed, but it will be paid annually at $205.00 + GST for one year, with a renewal fee of $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks.

The lawsuit alleged that Paquin spent over half his life behind bars and suffered greatly during his incarceration, including the loss of his son, freedom, and identity. The lawsuit claims that the key informant who accused Paquin, Bernard Provençal, admitted to perjury and implicating Paquin falsely. The federal justice department ordered a new trial in 2024, concluding that a miscarriage of justice had occurred due to the introduction of new and significant information not presented at the original trial.