Nearly 500 attend funeral for Quebec political aide

Last Updated: Saturday, May 24, 2008 | 12:20 PM ET

CBC News

Quebec political leaders, along with family and friends of Nancy Michaud, gathered in Rivière-Ouelle on Saturday for the funeral of the political aide killed in a crime that shocked her small, close-knit community.

The 37-year-old mother of two, who worked for Natural Resources Minister Claude Béchard, was found dead last Sunday in the basement of an abandoned home located 2.5 kilometres from her house.Police believe Nancy Michaud was violently abducted from her home in the town of 1,200. (CBC)

Béchard, Premier Jean Charest and Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ) Leader Mario Dumont attended the funeral at Notre-Dame-de-Liesse Church.

"She leaves us under very sad circumstances that nobody is able to understand," the premier said.

Michaud was discovered missing in the early morning hours of May 16 after her husband came home late from work and couldn't find her. Their two children, aged six and 18 months, were sound asleep.

According to police, there were signs of a struggle inside the home. Police believe an intruder dragged her into a car. Hours after her body was discovered on the afternoon of May 18, police arrested a suspect who lived in the same town.

During a court appearance in Rivière-du-Loup, Que., on Friday, the lawyer representing Francis Proulx, 29, asked for better protection for his client.

Jean Desjardins said Proulx, charged with first-degree murder in Michaud's death, has been beaten up a couple of times in jail and is under a lot of stress.

Proulx will remain behind bars until his next court date on June 3.

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