Court report: Klenovsky acquitted of attempted murder

Montreal Courthouse. Photo: Dick Nieuwendyk

Sergei Klenovsky was acquitted on Friday at the Quebec Court of one count of attempted murder and one of making death threats.

Klenovsky, 22, was arrested last November over the stabbing of Mikael Vargas. Vargas had been attacked in his home by two masked men. He was stabbed three times. During the trial Vargas testified that it was Klenovsky who had stabbed him. As the assailants were masked however Vargas said he recognized Klenovsky through his eyes. Something not concrete enough to sway the judge.

Klenovsky sat deep in his chair his legs splayed out in front of him. His face was gaunt and his eyes darted about the room. Klenovsky wore a charcoal grey Columbia jacket.

Klenovsky offered no defence. Judge Mylene Gregoire said it is a ‘gamble’ to offer no defence but that without one, Klenovsky did not need to be cross examined. His lawyer Ramy El-Turaby sat quietly most of the trial occasionally interrupting to poke holes in the prosecution’s, Jean Francois Roy, case.

Gregoire said in her verdict that the evidence provided was not enough to be considered beyond a reasonable doubt. Saying the witness, Vargas, repeatedly changed his story during his testimony.

“Basically I found the credibility and reliability of the witness [Vargas] questionable. Importantly, I had reasonable doubt in my mind as to whether he was attached to the case,” said Gregoire.

As the judge came to her judgement, Klenovsky began to smile. When she announced her verdict Klenovsky stood clasping his hands and touched his forehead. He told the judge thank you before resuming his seat.

As the court cleared, Klenovsky fist bumped his counsel, and thanked him repeatedly. Other than his standing however, Klenovsky remained implacable during the case, betraying no emotion, and seeming to care little for what was happening.

Gregoire rendered an uncommon same day verdict. She said of her decision, “my decision was made today, so I wanted to do it [the acquittal] right away. Sometimes it takes two, three weeks to make a decision, but in this case, I knew.”

Klenovsky has been in trouble with the law several times over the past years, being detained in 2017 and 2016.

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