Former Canadian judge accused of killing wife pleads guilty to manslaughter

A retired Quebec judge who spent years behind bars and was facing a second murder trial in his wife’s 2009 shooting death pleaded guilty to manslaughter, putting an end to a nearly 15-year legal battle.

Jacques Delisle appeared at the Quebec City courthouse Thursday to admit to one count of manslaughter. He walked in slowly, wearing a navy suit and a mask.

Delisle’s lawyer told the courtroom his client did not shoot his wife Marie Nicole Rainville but he caused her death by leaving a loaded gun next to her at her request. Jacques Larochelle described Delisle as a loving husband to an ailing wife, but his lawyer acknowledged he had taken a more active role in her death by suicide than previously admitted.

Crown prosecutor François Godin supported the manslaughter plea, but said he did not agree with the defence’s version of events. The prosecution accepted the plea in part because of Délisle’s age and for the course of justice.

The prosecution and defense jointly requested the judge sentence Delisle to one additional day behind bars, taking into account the eight years and 310 days already served.

Delisle was sentenced to one day, and the former magistrate could be heard saying “you’re not serious” as he was cuffed and escorted out out of the courtroom.

Delisle, 88, is believed to be the first Canadian judge to ever stand trial for murder. He was convicted in 2012 of fatally shooting Rainville and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

The former Quebec Court of Appeal judge maintained his innocence for years, saying Rainville took her own life while the Crown argued Delisle killed her.

A major part of the case revolved around the angle of entry of the bullet, which could confirm or infer a