Tow truck driver’s fate in court’s hands

James Castonguay, of Très-Saint-Rédempteur, who was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, went before Quebec Court Judge Odette Perron in a Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courtroom on August 25 and 26.

Catherine Blanchemanche, 18, died of her injuries after being run over by a vehicle in the parking lot outside of Bar Chez Maurice in Saint-Lazare on October 3, 2009.

During the preliminary hearing, defence lawyer Donato Delle Donne requested and was granted a publication ban on testimony heard during the two days in court.

The night she was killed, Blanchemanche’s body was found by a distraught club patron at close to 2:30 in the morning.

According to Chez Maurice employees who spoke with reporters the following day, the young woman had allegedly gone to the club with her boyfriend and friends to see the band Young Soul.

Chez Maurice owner Richard Chartrand said his employees told him the slender blond had left the bar alone.

She was later found with what appeared to be severe head injuries.

SQ investigators seized Castonguay’s truck later the same day as evidence in their investigation.

Police say the driver told them he did not know he had run anyone over.

The young woman, who attended college at Cegep Ahuntsic, first had aspirations of becoming a police officer and then decided to work with troubled youths.

According to her family, Blanchemanche also volunteered at homeless shelters and was an honour roll student.