The suspect in the Jan. 9 stabbing of an interpreter at a suburban Montreal courthouse is facing multiple charges.
Alexandre Garcés, 44, appeared in court in Longueuil, Que., on Jan. 10 to be charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon. Court documents specified that a knife was the weapon allegedly used in the attack.
A bail hearing is expected to take place on Jan. 11, police said.
A 68-year-old man, identified in court documents as Hai Thach, was seriously injured after being attacked on Jan. 9 at the Longueuil courthouse, and police said on Jan. 10 that his life remains in danger.
A lawyer who witnessed the aftermath of the attack described Mr. Thach as a well-known court interpreter and said his face and head were covered in blood after the stabbing.
Police have said the suspect did not know the victim, and the motive for the crime is unclear.
The professional order representing interpreters and translators in the province issued a statement on social media.
“We were profoundly saddened to learn of the assault suffered by one of our members yesterday at the Longueuil courthouse,” the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec wrote. “Our thoughts are with Mr. Thach in this difficult time, and we wish him a prompt recovery.”
