Man Convicted for Threatening Journalist Sophie Durocher on Social Media

A man was convicted on Wednesday for threatening and harassing columnist Sophie Durocher. The accused posted on Twitter, expressing a desire to “slap” the journalist into a “coma” due to her views on COVID-19, a message deemed by the judge as “extremely violent.”

In a verdict delivered at the courthouse in Montreal, Judge Alexandre Dalmau concluded that the accused broadcasted his statements “as if walking down the street with a megaphone, telling anyone who listened that Sophie Durocher deserves to be struck so forcefully she would fall into a coma.” The judge added, “He expresses publicly that she should be silenced and disappear from public debate through physical violence.”

The individual convicted, Martin Larouche, a 53-year-old resident of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, was found guilty of death threats and criminal harassment, charges filed under summary proceedings, signifying a less serious criminal offense.

The central issue in the case involved a tweet posted by Larouche on August 2, 2022, which stated: “La Durocher deserves to be slapped so hard she falls into a coma for a couple of years.” Larouche, an opponent of COVID-19 vaccination, made the remarks in response to another user’s reaction to an old comment by Sophie Durocher about the pandemic.

Durocher testified during the trial last summer, describing how the message had profoundly affected her. “The statements deeply troubled me. I had a physical reaction. I collapsed. I was profoundly shocked by the violence of the words,” she recounted.

Martin Larouche defended his tweet by asserting it was sent “in the heat of the moment” and without “thought.” He claimed the “slap” was meant as a metaphor for a “media slap.” However, Judge Dalmau did not accept Larouche’s explanation.

“Whether the coma is ‘medical’ or ‘media,’ his intention is the same, to silence Sophie Durocher,” the judge stated. “Despite what he claims today about the meaning of his words, he is indeed using violence to convey this message.”

The judge also addressed a commentary written by Sophie Durocher on “the slap incident,” in which she even mentioned Larouche’s partner. However, Judge Dalmau maintained that this did not mean the victim was not fearful of the accused. “When a victim confronts their intimidator, it does not necessarily mean they are not afraid inside,” he noted.

In his ruling, Judge Dalmau criticized the “toxic” atmosphere prevailing on social media and traditional media, explaining that “finding the echo of one’s own anger through another publicly expressing anger can be comforting, attracting a certain audience.” He added, “For some, the expression of anger becomes profitable, a highly lucrative business model.”

The sentencing hearings are scheduled to occur in the upcoming weeks. Prosecutor Jessica Drolet represented the public ministry, while Marylie Côté defended the accused.