News Releases

Quebec Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COWANSVILLE, QC, December 4, 2006 - On December 3, 2006, at 12:15 p.m., Serge Lalonde, an inmate at the Cowansville Institution, a medium-security penitentiary, was pronounced dead of natural causes at the BMP Hospital in Cowansville. The inmate was found unconscious shortly after 10:00 a.m. by the Institution's staff who immediately began the appropriate resuscitation measures.

Serge Lalonde, 46 years of age, had been serving a sentence of 15 years, 11 months and 3 days for robbery since April 18, 1991.

A coroner's inquest will take place to determine the cause of death. The Sûreté du Québec and Correctional Service Canada will also conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

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For further information, media representatives are asked to contact:

Lucette l'Espérance
A/Assistant Warden, Management Services
450-263 3073, ext. 2102