The Crown also explored the issue of whether Jacquard has ever come to terms with his mother’s role and about what she did or didn’t do while he was growing up. Jacquard was abused by both his biological father and his first stepfather. The Crown asked why Jacquard had refused to go to counseling with his mother, especially if it could benefit her. Jacquard said he’s already dealt with his issues and he didn’t see the point of having to go through counseling with his mother to bring up what was in the past.
Earlier in the day Dr. Scott Theriault of the East Coast Forensic Hospital testified that Jacquard fell in the low to modest range to commit a violent offence in the future. On a category scale of one to nine, with one being minimal risk and nine being the highest risk, Jacquard ranked in the fourth category. Dr. Theriault, sworn in as an expert witness, also told the court that a person who commits a more minor offence is more likely to reoffend than someone who commits a serious offence.
The Crown suggested though that Jacquard sits in the low range to reoffend compared to other people who also have a violent history, but when you compare him to people who don’t have a history of violence – in other words, the average person – the range is high.
Asked what might trigger someone like Jacquard to commit another violent offence, Theriault noted that Jacquard has had relatively little adult time in the community given that he’s been in prison since his early 20s. For this reason it will be important to support him in areas of housing, employment and education when, or if, he is released from prison, and to also monitor him in his intimate relationships. It was also noted during the hearing that it’s the people closest to Jacquard that hurt him over the years, as opposed to the general population.
Dr. Theriault also testified about the post traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) Jacquard was suffering from at the time of the murder. He said people who experience PSTD re-experience the trauma in their life over and over, feel emotionally drained or detached from life, are reluctant to talk about their trauma and can be jittery or on edge.
Meanwhile, while on the stand Jacquard acknowledged that there have been many victims as a result of his crime. Along with Wilkinson and Hurlburt, he said his family and the families of his victims have also suffered greatly. He even suggested the members of the jury hearing his application were victims, as they have had to sit through court and listen to the testimony and revisit the shootings.
The hearing is in recess until Monday, June 7 when the jury returns to court to hear closing arguments from the lawyers and to receive their charge from the judge before beginning their deliberations.
The jury will decide if Jacquard should be allowed to go to the National Parole Board to ask for early parole. That has to be a unanimous decision. They can also suggest how much early he can seek early parole.
The ultimate question of parole, however, would be left to the National Parole Board.
