QUEBEC — The Crown says it wants to appeal the recent verdict against a former Quebec doctor who murdered his two kids.
Guy Turcotte was found not criminally responsible in the stabbing deaths of his five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter.
The jury’s decision on July 5 outraged many Quebecers, with hundreds of people taking to Twitter and other social media to discuss the verdict.
Turcotte admitted to having caused the deaths in 2009, but denied criminal intent.
He was on trial on two counts of first-degree murder.
Quebec’s director of criminal and penal prosecutors said in a statement Friday it is seeking leave to appeal the verdict because of the judge’s instructions to the jury.
“The (director) believes the judge erred in law on elements likely to have influenced the jury in its conclusions with regard to criminal non-responsibility for reason of mental illness.”
The Quebec Court of Appeal is expected to announce within a few weeks whether it will hear the case.
Turcotte’s lawyer did not want to comment.
Some Quebecers are planning to protest the verdict on Aug. 6 in front of Quebec courthouses, including ones in Quebec City and Montreal.
Turcotte stabbed his son Olivier and daughter Anne-Sophie a total of 46 times in their beds.