A Victoria man serving a prison sentence for the stabbing death of a young musician from Quebec City five years ago must serve an additional 90 days for spitting on a correctional officer.
Justin Carte, 32, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for the manslaughter of Raphaël Bussières in the early morning of Nov. 26, 2016. Carte had been released from jail two days earlier and was high on crystal meth and heroin.
Carte and Bussières, who did not know each other, had been rapping on a downtown sidewalk. When Bussières and his friends walked to the McDonald’s at the corner of Douglas and View streets, Carte followed. He became physically aggressive towards Bussières, touching him three times on the shoulder. When Bussières told him to stop, Carte swung at him, stabbing him in the neck with a knife and severing his carotid artery. Bussières died two days later in hospital.
The Parole Board of Canada reviewed Carte’s detention in July 2021 and ordered that he remain in custody until the end of his sentence. Four months earlier, Carte had been convicted of assaulting a peace officer after spitting on a correctional manager who told him he was going to be transferred to another institution.
The board found Carte had a persistent pattern of violence, a high risk of violent reoffending in the community and the institution, a high level of dangerousness and high need for intervention. It also found there was no program in the community that could adequately manage his risk.
“The board was satisfied that you were likely, if released, to commit an offence causing death or serious harm to another person before the expiration of your sentence.”
On Tuesday, board members reviewed Carte’s case, including the additional sentence, and again ordered that he remain in custody until the end of his sentence.
“You are considered to be unpredictable, impulsive and violent in the community as well as towards Correctional Service of Canada staff members and other inmates. Your Case Management Team (CMT) recalls that you suffer from severe mental health problems that require medication,” the decision says.
Carte was detained at a psychiatric hospital in June because he would not take his medication. His condition stabilized and he was discharged from hospital in November and returned to prison, the decision says.
Throughout this life, Carte has been involved in drugs and violence. He has not taken advantage of the help offered to change his ways and does not appear to be worried about the consequences of his actions to others, the board found.
Carte’s accountability, motivation and potential for reintegration are deemed low. In his report, a psychologist found Carte’s risk of violent reoffending is high.
“He is of the opinion that, should you be released under the current circumstances, you would very likely resume substance use, and your mental state would rapidly deteriorate, which would increase your risk of violent recidivism causing serious physical harm on a potential victim,” the decision says.
