Guilty verdict for Alain Gascon in 2014 murder of  Angela Distasio

On April 20, 2014, Angela Distasio, 42, was murdered by her common-law husband of 25 years, from whom she had been recently separated. Distasio had been staying with her son at his home at 45 Symmes Road in Aylmer. That is where her body was discovered after she had suffered repeated blunt force trauma and ultimately death caused by stab wounds to the throat.

Alain Gascon, 52, from Quyon was convicted of first-degree murder on the late afternoon of Thursday, May 4. A jury of 3 women and 9 men found Gascon guilty and he plans to appeal the decision. The charge carries with it a minimum sentence of 25 years without parole. The three years Gascon has been in custody will count toward his sentence, making him eligible for parole in 2039. Gascon’s defence team had been hoping to convince Judge Catherine Mandeville of a verdict of involuntary manslaughter, which carries no minimum sentence in Canada except when committed with a firearm. Gascon maintains that his actions were involuntary and not premeditated. He stated that he feels he was unfairly judged and the victim of a conspiracy by family members and Gatineau police officers who testified for the prosecution.

In the weeks before the murder, Gascon had been heard by several witnesses saying “if I can’t have her, no one will.” The couple had five children together and Gascon has been ordered not to have contact with any of them.