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.
Claude Paquin, a Quebec man acquitted in 2024 of a 1983 double murder, has settled a lawsuit against Montreal and the provincial government. The man, who served 18 years in detention and more than 23 years on parole, became free after the federal justice minister ordered a new trial.
The settlement was not disclosed in the news release from Montreal and Quebec. In his lawsuit, Paquin alleged that the police and justice system knew for decades that his 1983 conviction was based on false evidence. He was sentenced to 18 years in detention and over 23 years on parole, becoming the Quebec man with the longest unjustified deprivation of liberty.
According to the lawsuit, Paquin was wrongly imprisoned for half his life, losing his son, freedom, years, and identity. The key informant against Paquin, Bernard Provençal, later admitted to lying and implicating Paquin in a conspiracy. Despite the lawsuit being settled, its claims were not tested in court.
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