One of the two victims killed in a drive-by shooting in Longueuil more than two years ago actually died in two different ways, a jury was told on Tuesday at the start of the trial of two suspects charged with the double homicide..
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While making his opening statement to a jury at the Longueuil courthouse, prosecutor Vincent Huet said an expert witness will testify at some point in the trial and will say an autopsy done on Kadar Ahmed’s body revealed he suffered fatal wounds from the shooting but also because he was run over by the vehicle used in the shooting as it drove away.
On Sept. 23, 2022, Sophie Langelier, 42, and Ahmed, 34, were gunned down at 8:10 p.m. in a parking lot on de Lyon St., near the intersection of Darveau St.
Christopher Campagnolo, 21, of LaSalle, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, and Tatiana Isabel Sanchez, 25, also of LaSalle, is charged with Ahmed’s second-degree murder and with being an accomplice after the fact, after a firearm was discharged.
Huet told the jury the Crown’s theory of the case is that Campagnolo was the shooter and Sanchez was the driver of the burgundy Ford sport utility vehicle. The prosecutor also told the jury they won’t hear of a possible motive behind the double homicide.
“On the evening of Sept. 23, 2022, two people lost their lives in the parking lot of a small shopping mall on de Lyon St. in Longueuil. At around 8:10 p.m. that evening, the victims — Kadar Ahmed and Sophie Langelier — were heading back to their black Mercedes car after picking up their order at a restaurant in a shopping mall. This is when they crossed paths with the two accused,” Huet said. The accused “were also coming back from having picked up a food order at the shopping mall.
“For reasons unknown, an altercation occurred between the victim, Ahmed, and the accused, Campagnolo.”
Huet said Campagnolo fired several shots at both victims before he and Sanchez sped away in a Ford vehicle.
The firearm was recovered the following day by a person who will testify in the trial. An expert witness will say that Ahmed’s DNA was found on the Ford. A forensics ballistics expert will testify that the spent shell casings recovered at the crime scene came from the firearm that was recovered nearby the following day, Huet said, adding the DNA from both of the accused were found on the weapon.
“Why were these murders committed,” Huet asked rhetorically. “The motive won’t be an element (in this trial). The prosecution has no evidence to offer. To date, the motive remains unknown as do the links between the accused and the victims.”
The Crown is expected to call about 40 witnesses during the trial, including a few who witnessed part of the altercation and the shooting.
On Tuesday, both of the accused pleaded not guilty. Campagnolo has requested a trial in English while Sanchez asked for a trial in French. Superior Court Justice Daniel Royer explained to the jury that the trial will be bilingual.