A Quebec man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his partner after she was found dead in her home last week in Saint-Jérôme, Que.
The death of Danielle Lascelles, 67, marks the seventh suspected femicide in Quebec since the start of 2026.
Her brother, Benoit Lascelles, denounced the recent spate of violence against women in Quebec and says something needs to be done about it.
“We have to have better techniques to help the [women] of Quebec,” he told CTV News.
The accused, Patrick Clavel, 50, appeared in court on Tuesday to face the murder charge.
Last Friday afternoon, police were called to a home in Quebec’s Laurentians region, north of Montreal, where they found the woman’s body.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A man was also found at the scene and was taken to hospital under police custody.
Court records show that, in October 2024, the accused was charged with assaulting Lascelles, uttering death threats and stealing her cellphone. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was given a suspended sentence that included nine days of provisional detention and probation for two years.
The new charge alleges that Clavel killed Lascelles between Feb. 22 and 27, when he was still serving his probation order.
‘Friendly and smiling all the time’
Benoit Lascelles explained that his sister had an on-and-off relationship with the accused over the years, and the two experienced difficulties.
As he mourns her death, Benoit said he wants to remember her as “a good person” who was easy to be friends with and had so much love for the people around her.
“Really friendly and smiling all the time,” he said, adding that he used to love playing Scrabble and baseball with her.
Her favourite team, he said, was the Toronto Blue Jays.
“So now, I have no more [people] to play [with],” the 59-year-old said.
He said he would like to organize an event to honour all the femicide victims this year in Quebec so that their memories are never forgotten.
He added that he wants officials to focus on finding solutions to gender-based violence.
Politicians speak out
Elected officials in Quebec spoke out about the issue of domestic violence in the wake of Lascelles’ death, expressing their condolences to her family.
“Another life taken, another family torn apart by preventable violence,” wrote Ruba Ghazal, spokesperson for Québec solidaire, in a Facebook post on Monday.
“These are more than just numbers. These are women whom our system failed to protect.”
Saint-Jérôme Mayor Rémi Barbeau said he plans to look at what the city can do to protect women from becoming another victim.
“Danielle, 67, was a member of the 4th Bugle Call Brigade. She danced at a high level at the École de danse Desforges in Saint-Antoine-des-Laurentides. She worked at Télémessage Woodbridges and at flea markets. She had a life. Passions. Colleagues. Friends. A family,” he wrote online.
“Femicide does not happen overnight. It is part of a dynamic of control, isolation, domination, and psychological or physical violence that has too often been minimized, excused or ignored,” he continued.
“If you see a loved one gradually fading away, isolating themselves, becoming fearful, or justifying the unjustifiable, intervene. Reach out. Ask questions. Offer refuge.”
Seeking help
- Call 911 if you’re in immediate danger. If 911 isn’t available where you are, call your local police.
- Seek medical attention if needed. If you’ve been sexually assaulted, consider seeking medical attention. Not all injuries are visible. You can also ask about emergency contraception, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and pregnancy testing.
- Find a support service. 24/7 phone or chat support is available. Learn where to get help
Other resources
- Your local CLSC or Info-Santé: 811
- SOS violence conjugale: 514-873-9010 or 1-800-363-9010. You can also text 438-601-1211 or email sos@sosviolenceconjugale.ca
- Sexual Violence Helpline: 514-933-9007 or 1-888-933-9007. There is also an online chat.
- Montreal Sexual Assault Centre: 514-731-8531, ext. 47456 or info@cvasm.ca
- Crime Victim Assistance Centre: 1-888-933-9007 or 514 933-9007 (Greater Montreal)
- Assistance aux femmes: 514-270-8291
- Shield of Athena: 514-274-8117 or 1-877-274-8117.
- Find the nearest shelter at Women’s Shelters Canada.
- RÉZO Santé: 514 521 7778
- Centre de solidarité lesbienne: 514-526-2452 or info@solidaritelesbienne.qc.ca
