Quebec coroner launches public inquest into murder of Montreal woman, 2 children
CBC
Quebec's chief coroner is ordering a public inquest into the 2019 killing of a Montreal woman and her two young children.
Pascale Descary says the inquest will also probe the suicide of the woman's husband and the children's father, who is believed to have killed his family before he killed himself.
In a news release, Descary says new facts have come to light in recent days that require further investigation, but she does not give further details.
Coroner Alain Manseau investigated the four deaths. His report says Dahia Khellaf, 42, and her two sons, Adam, 4, and Aksil, 2, were found in Montreal's Pointe-aux-Trembles borough strangled to death on Dec. 11, 2019.
It says the evidence collected at the scene indicates they were killed by Khellaf's estranged husband, Nabil Yssaad, 46.
Yssaad died after he jumped from a sixth-floor hospital window in Joliette, Que., the day before the bodies were discovered by police who went to the family's home to notify Khellaf of the man's death.
The inert bodies were found placed in bed together, Manseau's report says.
Manseau's report details the steps Khellaf took to seek help and get away from her abusive, controlling spouse.
In 2018, fearing for her safety and that of the children, Khellaf left her husband who was jealous and violent, the report says. She lodged complaints against him on several occasions for threats and assault.
She attempted to get legal aid and launch divorce proceedings, but her request for financial assistance was turned down, the report says.
Twice in August 2018, Yssaad was charged with assault with a weapon and common assault against Khellaf, but he never stood trial.
On Dec. 4, 2019, Yssaad signed a peace bond under section 810 of the Criminal Code. As a result, the charges against him were dropped.
Eventually, Yssaad was ordered by a court not to approach his estranged spouse.
In his report, Manseau accuses the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) of not imposing strict enough conditions on Yssaad to protect the woman and her children.
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