A Quebec Court judge has begun hearing evidence in advance of a manslaughter trial set to begin in January where a man is charged with killing his neighbour, 23-year-old Patricia Ferguson, nearly three decades ago.

Serge Audette, 72, is seeking to have a stay of proceedings placed on the manslaughter charge he faces. On Thursday, Judge Dennis Galiatsatos heard evidence related to how Audette was arrested and questioned as a suspect in Ferguson’s death.

Through his lawyer, Kristina Markovic, Audette argues his rights were violated following his arrest.

Ferguson resided at an apartment building in Pointe-aux-Trembles when she disappeared on June 6, 1996. Audette lived in the same building and, at that point, he had already been convicted of a sexual assault.

Galiatsatos is scheduled to h

See Full Page