Accused in Brossard, Que., triple homicide sentenced to life in prison

Levana Ballouz has been sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for at least 25 years in connection with the killing of her partner and two children in Brossard, Que., two years ago.

She was found guilty on Monday of the four charges she faced: second-degree murder of 38-year-old Synthia Bussières, first-degree murder of five-year-old Éliam and two-year-old Zac, as well as arson.

Ballouz was known as Mohamad Al Ballouz when she was charged for the crimes.

While she is detained, she is prohibited from contacting the victims' family and friends as well as the Crown's witnesses who testified at trial.

Ballouz had filed a motion, requesting to be sent to the Joliette Institution for Women in case she was convicted. However, the court said in its decision on Friday that it is up to the Correctional Service of Canada to determine where she will serve her sentence.

Lawyer Alexandra Paquette, who specializes in prison law, said that in general, incarcerated people are detained in the detention centre of their choice, but exceptions can be made to ensure the safety and health of the rest of the prison population. 

For example, if someone is charged with a crime related to intimate partner violence against a woman, that context could qualify as a reason to refuse a transfer request, Paquette said. However, decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Paquette noted that she has "a hard time explaining how [Ballouz] would not be transferred to a women's facility, knowing that she is already staying in a women's prison."

During the five-week trial, Crown prosecutor Éric Nadeau told the court that Ballouz, 38, had stabbed Bussières 23 times in the night between Sept. 24 and 25, 2022. Nadeau said Ballouz then suffocated her two children and set fire to a number of objects in the home.

She also swallowed washer fluid in an attempt to end her life, according to evidence presented during the trial.

Firefighters discovered Bussières's body in the bathroom after being called to the home by a fire alarm.

They found the children unconscious in a bed, lying on either side of Ballouz.

Ballouz represented herself at the trial without the help of a lawyer and attempted to accuse Bussières of killing their children.

Bussières had worked for a Montreal urban planning agency.

Judge describes 'sadistic' character of accused

Judge Éric Downs did not mince his words when describing the accused in his ruling, saying that Ballouz used the justice system to further overwhelm the victims' family.

He emphasized that by representing herself and putting forward the "implausible" theory that Bussières had killed her own children, Ballouz "villi[fied] Synthia Bussières from the grave." 

"The murder of the victim is especially brutal and the circumstances surrounding it demonstrate the sadistic nature of the accused and her great dangerousness," Downs wrote. 

Sylvie Guertin, Bussières's mother, said on Friday that the judge was clear and described Ballouz's narcissistic behaviour well. 

"There are no words to express how relieved I am," Guertin said. "Justice has been served for my daughter and grandchildren."

Based on reporting by Verity Stevenson with files from Radio-Canada's Amélie Desmarais and Holly Cabrera