Quebec doctor charged with killing his 2 children
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | 3:39 PM ET
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First-degree murder charges were filed Tuesday in court in St-Jérôme, Que., against Guy Turcotte, 36. (CBC) A Quebec cardiologist has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his two young children in the Laurentians town of Piedmont.
The charges were filed Tuesday at the St-Jérôme courthouse against Guy Turcotte, 36.
Neither Turcotte nor his lawyer appeared in court to hear the charges, but a representative for the lawyer was there on their behalf.
On Tuesday, Turcotte remained in a Montreal hospital where he has been recovering since Saturday from what police say was a self-inflicted drug overdose.
Quebec provincial police said their detectives have not met with Turcotte yet and may have to wait a few days until he is well enough.
On Saturday, police discovered the bodies of Turcotte's five-year-old son, Olivier, and three-year-old daughter, Anne-Sophie, in the family home in Piedmont, 60 kilometres northwest of Montreal.
Autopsies are scheduled this week to determine the causes of the children's deaths.
Turcotte is a cardiologist at St-Jérôme Hospital, the same hospital where his wife works as a doctor. She was not in town Saturday when the deaths occurred.
The Quebec College of Physicians and Surgeons said it doesn't plan to take any action regarding Turcotte's medical licence until the court proceedings run their course.
Crown prosecutor Claudia Carbonneau said Turcotte will be transferred to a detention centre after his health improves.
Turcotte's next court appearance is scheduled for April 30.
With files from the Canadian PressShare Tools
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