On Monday, June 29, 2026, newly released prisoner Daniel Jolivet avoided a scheduled return to detention after being admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Montreal.
The 68-year-old was freed in December 2025 after 33 years for a 1992 quadruple murder in Brossard, which he consistently denied committing.
Jolivet was due at the Longueuil courthouse to be placed back into custody.
His release was conditional on a $50,000 bail and supervision by two guarantors, Charles-Antoine Danis and Jacinthe Lanctôt, who petitioned to withdraw due to his deteriorating mental health.
Defense attorney Nicholas St-Jacques said the psychological strain stemmed from prolonged delays as the federal Minister of Justice has yet to decide on a new trial, appeal, or dismissal.
“The Justice Minister's decision has still not been rendered and it plays a lot on Mr. Jolivet's mind.
Not knowing whether or not we are returning to detention. He needed to go seek that care,” St-Jacques said.
Superior Court Judge Lyne Décarie removed the bailsmen's withdrawal request from the docket until Jolivet is discharged from the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.
St-Jacques noted that the bailsmen will reassess supervision after care is received.
Guarantors bear legal obligations to monitor the accused and verify conditions, not just provide financial backing.
“What I understand, between the lines, is that this work was rather difficult lately, so the request was filed,” St-Jacques said.
The defense hopes medical intervention will stabilize the situation, allowing supervision to resume.
“But considering that he went to seek care to treat his mental state, we hope that things will fall back into place and that supervision will be able to resume as it should,” St-Jacques said.
Adapting to society after over three decades in prison is painful, especially under threat of re-incarceration. “It's heavy and it leads to situations like that.
You will understand that there are also deep wounds with these years of detention of a person who was unjustly incarcerated,” St-Jacques said.
Last October, the prosecution admitted Jolivet did not receive a fair trial because crucial evidence was withheld during his 1994 conviction.
“Living in uncertainty is very difficult for a person like Mr. Jolivet.
He is still waiting to know if he will return to detention for the rest of his life or if he will be able to continue living his life outside the walls, you see.
So it's very stressful and it generates a lot of anxiety; I think all of this affects his mental state,” St-Jacques said.
Legal proceedings on bail status will resume after his release from medical care.
A final decision from the federal minister on the potential judicial error could take up to a year, though counsel hopes for expedited resolution.
“What he feels is complicated.
One might think he is very happy to be outside on any given day, [mais] that may not be the case in his head, you know, because he feels all these different emotions at the same time, so it's very complicated,” St-Jacques said.
