Man gets additional two years for assaults on Montreal transit

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A man who assaulted six people at random on Montreal’s public transit network last year was sentenced Thursday to serve an additional two years in prison for the attacks.

George Test, 30, had pleaded guilty to assaulting six people across the network in early 2023, leaving them with concussions, broken teeth, injured backs and head wounds.

Speaking outside the courtroom on Thursday, Crown prosecutor Antonio Parapuf welcomed the sentence and referred to how security in Montreal’s métro system has been a concern in recent years.

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“It’s something we’ve heard a lot about,” Parapuf said. “And I think a clear message needed to be sent about these acts that affect society at large and people’s sense of security in public transit.”

In addition to the prison term, Test  will also need to serve a three-year probation period once released. He has been in custody since his arrest in February 2023.

The assaults took place over nearly two weeks in January and February of that year on a bus and at different métro stations, including Lionel-Groulx, Peel and St-Laurent.

Each of the victims was targeted at random and required hospital care for their injuries.

One was lifted from his métro seat and choked. Another was attacked and had his wallet stolen while recharging his Opus card. Yet another was followed by Test after giving him $2, then hit over the head with 1.18-litre beer bottle. He lost consciousness and woke up to his face covered in blood.

In statements submitted to the court, two of the victims explained how they are no longer comfortable using public transit, find themselves fearful of strangers and are now hyper-aware of their surroundings at all times.

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During sentencing arguments in June, the Crown and defence had agreed the case raised difficult questions given Test’s mental state.

At the time of the first assault, Test had been unhoused for about a week after falling out with his parents. He was splitting his time between an apartment building’s laundry room and the métro system, where he wandered the network, drank and panhandled.

Despite having a history of mental health issues, he refused to acknowledge them in meetings with experts tasked with evaluating him for sentencing purposes.

He also refused to undergo a psychiatric assessment for a potential “not criminally responsible” defence. He instead maintained that each of the victims had provoked him in some way.

A psychologist who evaluated Test for the court concluded he has an “unspecified psychotic disorder” coupled with mixed personality disorder. It was determined he presents a low-to-moderate risk of committing another violent offence.

While the Crown had suggested Test receive a two-year prison term, the defence had argued he should not serve any additional time, since it could be difficult for him to receive the mental health care he needs while detained.

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But in delivering Test’s sentence, Quebec Court Judge Pierre Labelle said Test’s refusal to acknowledge his mental health issues — or his addiction and aggression issues — was one of the main factors behind his decision.

“Rehabilitation has not been undertaken,” Labelle said with concern. “He finds himself essentially in the same position today as when he committed the acts.”

The judge noted Test’s guilty plea and lack of previous criminal record as mitigating factors, and the number of victims and severity of their injuries as aggravating factors.

He recalled that six people were attacked while using public transit, and that the victims the court heard from spoke to how their sense of safety in public has been deeply altered.

“The repercussions of Mr. Test’s actions are numerous,” Labelle added. “And continue to this day.”

jfeith@postmedia.com

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