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Home / Cases and Law Reform / Search Cases & Submissions

Case Summary

R. v. Gagné / La Maison des Femmes (1987)

This case involved the criminal law consequences for violence against women.  

LEAF retained a lawyer on behalf of La Maison des Femmes de la Côte-Nord, a shelter for women fleeing violence, to monitor a trial.  

Facts 

Mr. Gagné and Ginette Desjardins were married for 25 years, and had 5 children. Later in the marriage, Mr. Gagné struggled with alcohol use and Ms. Desjardins began separation proceedings. She began working at La Maison des Femmes, and ultimately sought a divorce. Subsequently, Mr. Gagné shot and killed Ms. Desjardins. He was initially charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was later reduced to manslaughter on the grounds that he had been too intoxicated and depressed to have planned a murder.   

Arguments 

The offence should not be treated as an isolated incident, but rather as part of a violent pattern of domestic abuse.  

Outcome 

The man was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to 14 years in prison.  

Leaf is grateful to Céline Boulanger Lamontagne, counsel in this case.  

Our records are imperfect, but we are doing our best to update them – if you were involved with LEAF on this case but your name is not reflected here, please email us at [email protected].

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Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform v. Canada (Attorney General)

This case is about the constitutionality of Criminal Code sex work provisions.

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Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform v. Canada (Attorney General)

This case is about the constitutionality of Criminal Code sex work provisions.

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Gender-Based Violence

Case Summary

R. v. Gagné / La Maison des Femmes (1987)

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National Office
180 Dundas Street West, Suite 1420
Toronto, ON M5G 1Z8
[email protected]
Phone: 416.595.7170
Toll-free: 1.888.824.5323
Facsimile: 416.595.7191

Charitable Registration Number: 10821 9916 RR0001

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Stay up to date on feminist law and LEAF’s work to advance gender equality



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