LaSalle man charged with manslaughter acted in self-defense: attorney

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A lawyer argued Thursday morning that his client, who was on trial for manslaughter in the Montreal courthouse, acted in legitimate self-defense during a fight in LaSalle that left a 48-year-old man dead three years ago.

Stephen O’Toole, 41, of LaSalle is charged in the death of Jeffrey Allaire. The victim died after a fight with O’Toole that broke out while they were gathered at a home with friends on October 31, 2021.

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On Thursday, lawyer Benoît Cliche began making closing arguments in the trial before Judge Bruno Ménard in Quebec. He asked for his client to be acquitted of manslaughter, saying O’Toole was defending himself during a fight he did not start.

Cliche argued that, based on the evidence heard at trial, Allaire was “the aggressor” in the brief fight. He said the two men had been friends for a year and a half before Allaire died and often played music together.

Earlier in the day in question, Cliche said, the two men even hugged before arriving at their friend’s home on David-Boyer St. in LaSalle, where some of their friends were playing instruments such as drums.

At one point during the meeting, Cliche said, O’Toole stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and Allaire followed him. At least one witness who testified said Allaire was not a smoker.

Another witness testified that they heard Allaire say, “You better never do anything to my sister” as he followed O’Toole outside to the porch.

Cliche argued that O’Toole is the only witness who could talk about “the entirety” of what happened once he and Allaire were outside.

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O’Toole told the court that Allaire first punched him square in the face and then delivered a second punch to one of his eyes. He said he responded by punching Allaire and then pushing him backwards into the trash cans.

Allaire died shortly after he fell.

Cliche noted that when O’Toole testified, he said he had no idea why Allaire hit him, that the victim’s mood had changed in the hours before the fight and that he became “weird” after the change.

Prosecutor Philippe Vallières-Roland argued that Allaire’s father, Richard Allaire, testified that O’Toole threw “a dozen punches” at the victim during the fight.

He also reminded the judge that a witness quoted O’Toole as saying during the fight, “I beat the shit out of you, bro.” Look at your face.”

The trial will resume on Thursday afternoon.

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