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

A Quebec man who spent more than 40 years in prison and on parole before being acquitted of a 1983 double murder conviction has reached a settlement with Montreal and the province.

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

Claude Paquin, a man who was acquitted of a double murder in 2024, has settled a lawsuit with Montreal and the province of Quebec, according to prosecutors. The 81-year-old had been imprisoned for 18 years and more than 23 years on parole before his release, despite the Quebec Crown prosecutor's refusal to retry him for the 1978 murders of Ronald Bourgouin and Sylvie Revah.

Alleged in the lawsuit, Paquin's conviction was based on false evidence, including a key witness who changed his story and received money and favours in return. The settlement amount remains undisclosed, but the lawsuit claims that police and prosecutors had enough evidence to release Paquin decades ago, yet did not act. The city and province hope the settlement will help Paquin move on from this difficult chapter in his life.

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