Man acquitted after being accused of running over Walmart security guard in Sherbrooke, Que.
The man accused of killing a Walmart security guard in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Sherbrooke, Que., has been found not guilty of all charges related to the incident.
Nacime Kouddar went to trial last winter for allegedly ramming security guard Philippe Jean in the Galeries Quatre Saisons parking lot on April 4, 2020. At Kouddar's trial in February, the court determined that he was in a position of self-defence.
Late Thursday, Quebec Court Judge Hélène Fabi acquitted Kouddar of a charge of hit-and-run causing death. That decision came a day after he was acquitted of charges of manslaughter and dangerous driving causing death.
Kouddar was involved in an altercation with Jean. Police initially said he was told by the security guard he could not go into the store with his partner because Walmart was only letting in one person per vehicle. At the time, physical distancing measures were in effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two men insulted each other and, according to Kouddar, racist comments were exchanged.
He was alleged to have grown frustrated and later returned to the shopping centre, running Jean over with his car in the parking lot.
Jean went into a medically induced coma before dying of his injuries in August 2020.
To arrive at the decision, the judge relied on testimony heard during the trial and surveillance camera footage from the Walmart store at the Galeries Quatre Saisons.
Crown prosecutor Émilie Barile-Côté said the prosecution has not yet decided whether to appeal the decision.
