Man convicted of attempted murder in 2024 Longueuil courthouse stabbing
Alexandre Garcés was found guilty Monday of stabbing interpreter Hai Thach multiple times in the neck and upper body during an attack that prompted new security measures across Quebec courthouses.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
A man was found guilty Monday of attempting to murder a court interpreter in a knife attack at the Longueuil courthouse that exposed security gaps and sparked province-wide safety upgrades.
Alexandre Garcés stabbed Hai Thach repeatedly in the neck and upper body on January 9, 2024, while Thach was reading in a cubicle. Garcés had no legitimate reason to be at the courthouse and did not know his victim. The judge determined that despite Garcés' claims of mental disorder, he was criminally responsible and had deliberately targeted someone connected to the justice system due to a personal grudge.
Garcés was convicted of attempted murder and weapon possession. He will return for sentencing at a later date.
The attack prompted Quebec courthouses to implement additional security measures, including metal detectors at entrances. The incident also renewed calls from prosecutors and court officers for enhanced protection at courthouse facilities. The decision now awaits sentencing.
