WARNING: This story contains videos and graphic descriptions of violence, as well as a thick language.
A crucial video has been shown in Alain Bellefeuille’s trial, who shot and killed a provincial police officer of Ontario and wounded two others out of Ottawa in 2023, which takes the jury to the heart of the central question at stake.
Did Bellefeuille know that he was shooting the police when he opened fire repeatedly?
Images of the chamber worn by the body of the sergeant. Eric Mueller, who died on the scene, contains important moments for both the crown and for defense. And provides a rare vision of what the police sometimes face when it responds to calls.
Bellefeuille declared himself innocent of murder and attempt to murder, and the charges against him have not been tested. But he is not in dispute that shot and killed Mueller. And there is no doubt that he shot and critically injured const. Marc Lauzon, who lived, and shot towards const. François Gamache-Asselin that caused lacerations in his knee.
With the judge’s permission, CBC News obtained parts of Mueller’s bodycam. CBC is publishing part of the images below, with the warning of graphic violence from the perspective of the death injured officer.
The video includes thick language, shots, disturbing images and sound.
This article also includes graphic descriptions of a violent event as it develops.
NOISE OF THE NEIGHBORS
In the early hours of the morning of May 11, 2023, Mueller, Lauzon and Gamache-Asselin responded to a noise complaint and carried out a welfare control in Bellefeuille at their home in Laval Street in Bourget, Ontario, approximately one hour by car east of the center of Ottawa.
Mueller’s Bodycam Lacam was activated at 2:28 am, the video shows it by uploading its cruise for a lane to Bellefeuille’s house.
Ahead of him, Lauzon is in his own cruise with his lights flashing. The first scene officer, Lauzon has already talked to the neighbors and tried to call Bellefeuille without success.
The two officers park. Lauzon turns off its flashing lights, leaving its bright white demolition light illuminating the house and the entrance path.
The house is dark, but a porch light is on.
Perimeter check
Lauzon’s siren is at full volume when he and Mueller leave their vehicles, and the two officers exchange words in French.
Mueller tells Lauzon that he did not want Lauzon to enter, just in case, and ask if Bellefeuille has children or is alone.
Lauzon tells his sergeant that Bellefeuille is alone, and that the porch’s light had been off, but turned on at some point. He says it is reported that Bellefeuille drinks a lot and is sad for having to move from his home. And he transmits that A neighbor reported before hearing shouts and shots.
They agree to divide for a perimeter check.
WARNING: This video represents a violent event. Includes thick language, shots, disturbing images and graphic sound.
Images of the chamber worn by the body of the sergeant. Eric Mueller, who died on the scene, contains important moments for both the crown and for defense.
Both officers shine in the flashlights on the front porch and through the windows, then Lauzon goes to the garage and the back of the house. Mueller persists on the porch, telling Gamache-Asselin, who has recently arrived, that “appears” in English through the radio, and then goes to the other side of the house.
“Yes, just cover the main door. I’m just going to make a first perimeter verification,” says Mueller in English through the radio.
Mueller and Lauzon are in the backyard. A dog bricks three times. The officers shine at the back door and through the windows.
Lauzon plays repeatedly at the door and the window. The door is closed, he says in French. He relaxes that he sees a dog and that his barking must wake Bellefeuille.
First verbal statement are the police
Mueller says in French that they will check the main door and enter the house in that way. A few seconds later, he adds, again in French, “we are breaking him, man.”
Neither Mueller have announced verbally as police officers still. This is a key issue that the defense has raised during the interrogation of witnesses of the crown.
Gamache-Asselin is waiting in front, covering behind a truck.
Mueller approaches a window and shines his flashlight inside, while Lauzon opens the main door with the gun drawn by his side.
Gamache-Asselin does not have the opportunity to talk to his colleagues. He testified under the interrogation that he had no idea that Mueller and Lauzon were going to enter until they were walking towards the main door, and that they followed them but receded slightly.
“Allo Alain, police!” Lauzon shouts calmly.
Shots through the bedroom wall
At this point, the bodycam images provided by the Court cut for 46 seconds. The jury, however, sees and listens to everything, and then, Lauzon explains it.
When opening the door, Lauzon also says: “Salut Chien [Hello dog]. Allo Alain, police! Alain! “
Mueller shouts, in English, “Hello!”
It’s 2:33 am, and both men are now inside.
Suddenly, just after Mueller says Hi, Bellefeuille shoots nine shots with his semi -automatic rifle through the wall of his room in the direction of the officers.
“GAMS! Help! GAMS!” Mueller shouts Gamache-Asselin, using his nickname.
Eight seconds later, two more shots are heard.
‘I’m wounded!’
The images provided by the Court resume just before 2:34 AM Mueller is on the floor of the dark mud room, bleeding, its darkened chamber and then towards the roof. Gamache-Asselin shouts in Lauzon to leave, and Lauzon responds in French: “I can’t! I’m injured!” Between heavy breaths.
While Gamache-Asselin shouts on the radio that Lauzon is injured and sends an ambulance immediately, Bellefeuille shouts in English: “Break and enter, pattern!”
Lauzon, who has received several shots, steps briefly in the frame from the door while Gamache-Asselin shouts to retire.
Lauzon, breathing strong and groaning, looks at Mueller. Smoke from the shots they hit Lauzon’s The protective vest approaches his face, meeting with the fog of his breath.
Look at the return of a corner, trying to see Bellefeuille, then moves outward and out of sight.
‘I should never break into my house’
Meanwhile, Mueller’s Bodycam images show Bellefeuille at the door of his room. Lift its rifle and shoot two more shots through a window.
With a black shirt, a baseball cap and combat pants, Bellefeuille walks to Mueller.
He triggers another shot through the main door, then leans to look directly at Mueller’s face.
“F – with the Motherf -ker, man, but C’est ainque ça that j’ai à direct [That’s all I’ve got to say]”He says, his voice sometimes falls to a whisper.” F -K with the Motherf -Ker wrong. I should never break into my house. I’m sorry.”
About 12 seconds later, Bellefeuille says: “Uh, f – k”.
Bellefeuille calls 911
It gets up, the light turns, then grabs the body of the body. The view is obscured for a few seconds by the hand of Bellefeuille, and then the lens is covered with something. You can’t see anything during the remaining two minutes and 40 seconds of video.
A drag sound is heard, then four shots are at 2:35 am Bellefeuille was firing the police cruises outside, Gamache-Asselin testified.
About 45 seconds later, Bellefeuille says in French: “I’m sorry, friend, but you’ve done with the wrong guy. F – Keed with the wrong guy.”
At 2:37 am, Bellefeuille calls the police. He tells the dispatcher in English: “Hello, I shot, I had a break and entered, but unfortunately I shot a police.” Then he gives him his address.
He is transferred to another dispatcher, and Bellefeuille tells him the same before the video ends.
The video of the camera used by Mueller’s body is one of the several shown to the jury so far in the case of the crown. Three video segments Gamache-Asselin BodycThey have played me, as well as Audio of the CAM Bod de const. Ion Mihuta, who arrested Bellefeuille. There are no images of the Mihuta body chamber, since it was obscured by its armored vest.
These other exhibitions have not yet been presented to the court and, therefore, are not available.
The trial resumes Monday with the interrogation of Mihuta.
