Quebec police officer found guilty of speeding, causing death of 5-year-old

A Quebec provincial police officerhas been found guilty of dangerous driving in the death of a five-year-old boy on Montreal's South Shore.

Patrick Ouelletwas in an unmarked police cruiser,tailing a suspectatmore than 100 km/hin a 50 km/h zone, when hestruck and killed NicholasThorne-Belancefour years ago in Saint-Hubert.

In a ruling issued Thursday in Longueuil, Quebec court Judge ric Simardsaid there wasnothing to justify the speed at which Ouelletwas driving and that there were "inherent" risks in such behaviour.

"His failure to take steps to avoid such risks constitutes a marked departure from the standard of care that a reasonable person in the same situation would follow," Simardwrote in his decision.

Part of surveillance operation

At the time of accident, in February 2014, Ouellet was following apolitician as part of a surveillance operation targeting provincial corruption.

Hereached a speed of 134km/honGatan-BoucherBoulevard in the moments before the accident and108 km/h at the moment of impact.

At theintersection of Gatan-Boucherand Davis, he struck a vehicle carrying two children in the backseat.Nicholas was critically injured and died in hospital five days later.

Duringthetrial, Ouellet testifiedthat the crash was unavoidable. However, the Crown argued the officer'sdriving behaviour that day was "objectively dangerous."

Family 'very satisfied' with decision

StephanieThorne, the boy's mother,broke down in tearsafter hearing that Ouellethad been found guilty. The family did not offer comment outside the courtroom.

Ouellet, with his shoulders slumped, clutched his girlfriend's handthroughout the judge's decision. After the ruling, when the judge ordered a short recess, she stayed inside the courtroom and wept.

Nadine Touma, Ouellet's lawyer,declined to comment but said the defencewould appeal the judge's decision.

The Crown initially decided to not lay charges, but then reversed itsdecision in2015 after Justice Minister Stphanie Valleordered an independent review of the case amid intense pressure.

Crown prosecutorGenevive Langloissaid the family was"very satisfied" with Thursday's ruling.

"They had the impression that justice was rendered today, and for them it's a big step regarding all the steps in the four years between the event and today," she said.

Convictions for dangerous driving causing death carry a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 22.