Skip to content

Bail granted to Quebec man charged in Walmart altercation with security guard

dpi11057258

MONTREAL — A Quebec man involved in an alleged assault that left a security guard seriously injured and that police initially described as a kind of COVID-19 road rage was granted bail on Wednesday.

The Crown didn't oppose Nacime Kouddar's release, which came after his arraignment on four counts Monday: criminal negligence causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and failure to stop after an accident.

His release under several strict conditions came as a differing account emerged of what happened outside a Walmart store in Sherbrooke, Que., on Saturday afternoon.

Sherbrooke police said on the weekend that the incident occurred after a man grew frustrated when he was told only one person per vehicle was allowed inside the store because of social distancing measures.

Police alleged Philippe Jean, 35, was struck by a car driven by Kouddar and dragged on the hood of the vehicle for several metres around 5 p.m. Saturday.

Defence lawyer Kim Dingman says the defence has obtained surveillance video from the parking lot, not yet filed in court, which offers a very different version of what happened.

She would not disclose the details of what is shown on the video, which is expected to be used at an eventual trial.

"The video remains an element of the evidence in the case," Dingman said.

The French-language Sherbrooke daily La Tribune reported that video allegedly shows the security guard chasing down and jumping on the hood of the accused's car and banging on the windshield.

Ahead of the bail hearing, Dingman had asked the court Tuesday if she could show a video depicting the scene.

"As it wasn't filed or shown in court, I won't comment on its contents," Dingman said.

Jean remains hospitalized with serious head injuries.

An online fundraiser was halted Tuesday as word of the conflicting version of events emerged.

"Following the latest developments in this case, I decided ... to stop the collection for an indefinite period," wrote Aurelien Hallade, the citizen who'd started the funding drive. "All donations made are for now frozen and safe until all light is shed on this matter."

Kouddar, 25, was released on $2,000 bail and will live with his father north of Montreal, who will act as his guarantor.

He must give up his driver's licence within seven days and will be forbidden from driving for the duration of his legal case. He is also forbidden from going to the Eastern Townships region where the incident occurred, except for court dates.

The case returns to court on Aug. 3.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 8, 2020.

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press


Looking for Ontario News?

VillageReport.ca viewed on a mobile phone

Check out Village Report - the news that matters most to Canada, updated throughout the day.  Or, subscribe to Village Report's free daily newsletter: a compilation of the news you need to know, sent to your inbox at 6AM.

Subscribe