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Suspect in McDonald's murder acquitted

Thursday, October 25, 2007

A man Ottawa determined was a street gang member and ordered deported in 2002 was acquitted today of the attempted murder of Daudi Niyonsaba, who was shot in a McDonald's restaurant the end of last year.

Jean-Yves Brutus, 26, a native of Haiti, smiled broadly, jumped from his seat in the prisoner's box and clapped his hands as Quebec Court Judge Claude Millette announced his verdict.

Brutus's girlfriend, whom he is accused of threatening, was thrilled with the outcome.

"It's been a year since I've been with him," Sabrienne Ratte said outside the court room.

Brutus, whom Ratte denied was a member of a street gang, has been in prison since his arrest following the Dec. 30, 2006 shooting in the St. Michel fast-food restaurant. He is to go on trial Jan. 25 on charges of uttering death threats, obstructing justice and harrassment of Ratte.

Millette concluded that there wasn't enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Brutus was the person who pulled the trigger.