1st-degree murder charges laid in fatal jailhouse beating

Upgraded charges of first-degree murder have been laid against three Ottawa jail inmates after a man they allegedly assaulted in April died in hospital last week.

Marco Michaud, 36,was beaten onApril 11 and died May 4.

Michaud had been in custody at the jailafter being charged with first-degree murder. The manMichaudhad allegedly assaulted died after spending six months in a coma.

Three men were each originally charged with attempted murder after Michaud's beating:

• Mohamad Barkhadle, 32, who was in jailon a charge of first-degree murderin the March 2017 death of a woman in an apartment on Burnside Avenue.
• Pierre Senatus, 22, who was in jail on multiple charges includingsexualassault.
• Jimmy St. Hilaire, 19, who was in jail on multiple charges includingrobbery.

Ottawa police said last week that they were reviewing the charges against the trio in light of Michaud'sdeath, and on Thursday police confirmed upgraded charges of first-degree murder had been laid.

All three men are next set to appear in court May 18.