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Accused’s bail depends on showing court proof of departure to Montreal

A man charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly driving a car at his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend is expected to be released on $5,000 bail on Tuesday.
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A man charged with two counts of attempted murder after allegedly driving a car at his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend is expected to be released on $5,000 bail on Tuesday.

But first, Sebastien Normandin, 46, must show authorities at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre and his Victoria bail supervisor a photocopy of a plane ticket in his name to Montreal.

On Friday, Victoria provincial court Judge Jennifer Barrett agreed to release Normandin on the condition he be driven straight from the jail to the airport by his mother. Barrett also asked a member of the regional domestic violence unit to follow his mother’s car to the airport.

It was the fifth continuation of the bail hearing for Normandin, a thin-faced man with grey hair and glasses, who appeared by video from the correctional centre.

Normandin is also charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle on Dec. 27, 2016, recklessly harassing and causing another person to fear for their safety on Nov. 30 and Dec. 27, 2016, assault causing bodily harm on May 8, 2015, and assault on Dec. 13, 2014. The bail proceedings and the names of Normandin’s alleged victims are protected by a publication ban. Crown and defence will return to court on June 6 to set a date for Normandin’s next court appearance.

After arriving in Montreal, Normandin must report in person daily to the West Operational Centre. He must not leave the Greater Montreal area or travel to Vancouver Island without advance, written notice of his Victoria bail supervisor, Barrett said.

Normandin must have a telephone landline in Montreal and give the number to his Victoria bail supervisor and to the operational centre. He will be under a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, Barrett ordered.

When he comes to Vancouver Island, Normandin must live with his mother and remain in his residence at all times, with a few exceptions for court appearances and appointments with his lawyer.

Barrett also imposed a red-zone restriction on Normandin, preventing him from going anywhere east of Quadra Street. She also ordered him to have no contact with his alleged victims or their families.

He must advise his Victoria bail supervisor of any intended or ongoing close relationships and refrain from continuing those relationships until those people have been advised of the criminal allegations, Barrett said.

In Victoria and Montreal, he must abstain from drugs, including marijuana. He is not to possess any weapons or live in a home where people have weapons.

Normandin is not to be in the driver's seat of any vehicle.

Barrett also ordered Normandin to take dialectical behaviour therapy and placed him under an order that would allow mental-health treatment.

Police were called to Gillespie Place, off Rockland Avenue near Moss Street, at 6:40 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2016, after a report of a serious crash involving two vehicles. One car had significant damage, Victoria police spokesman Const. Matt Rutherford said at the time. Major crime investigators became involved because of the seriousness of the offence, he said.

ldickson@timescolonist.com