Jean François Beaudet, who was originally accused by state prosecutors of vehicular manslaughter in the Feb. 4 deaths of three young Yucatán men, has been released from custody, a news service reports. The criminal charges will not be pursued.
Beaudet, 25, was at the wheel of a van when he crossed the center line and collided head on with a taxi, investigators say. The cab driver, 26, and his front seat passenger, 27, were killed instantly. A third man in the rear seat died hours later at a local hospital. All the men were trapped in the crushed taxi and had to be extricated by emergency responders. The victims were Yucatán natives.
The crash occurred about 8:30 p.m. on a road known as the Kantunil–Holcá highway. The area is half way between this capital city of Yucatán and the Chichén Itzá archaeological site, near Valladolid.
Accompanying Beaudet were several other Canadians. All of the men in the van, who were on their way to Cancún at the time of the collision, suffered only minor injuries. Forensic tests established that Beaudet had used marijuana some time prior to the accident. But because traces of such may be detected in the human body long after ingestion, prosecutors could not prove that it was an immediate factor in the accident.
Beaudet was held in jail for weeks in lieu of $55,000 USD bail. Bail in Mexico is typically cash only, especially in the case of foreign nationals, or persons without substantial property or well-established connections to the community.
Yesterday Beaudet arrived at an agreement with prosecutors, which was approved by a local court. He promised to pay 140,000 pesos in civil damages to the families of each of the three victims. At the current exchange rate of about 12.5 pesos to the U.S. dollar, that's $11,200 USD for each death. Beaudet and supporters posted a deposit of 10,000 pesos with the court - $800 USD - after which he was released by a public ministry officer. Canadian consular officials attended the hearing.
Press sources did not indicate whether any other conditions were set by the court. It's unclear if Beaudet will, or must, remain in Mexico. Apart from the cash posted yesterday, it appears that the balance of the damages may be fully or partially paid by an international liability policy which covered the van while it was being driven in Mexico.
My observation: This case is one more piece of proof that in Mexico, money still tidies up lots of problems, including some that perhaps it shouldn't. A popular national saying here is con dinero, baila el perro - "for money, a dog will dance." I don't claim to have first hand knowledge of the evidence, but I know what repeated press accounts have said. I also know what the police alleged in the days right after the event. In the United States this young defendant would have faced the very real prospect of several years in prison. I suspect the same thing would have been true in a Canadian criminal court. Putting aside the marijuana issue completely, driving on the wrong side of the road is considered gross negligence in Anglo-American jurisdictions, and gross negligence quite often is the legal equivalent of, or just one short step away from, criminal negligence. Here the case was treated as another routine civil matter, with money the sole object of the prosecution. Eleven thousand dollars for each young life forfeited. I'd say the dog danced pretty well.
Canadian national faces manslaughter charges: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/canadian-national-faces-manslaughter.html.
Accused Canadian enters not guilty plea; alleges abuse in Mexican jail: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/accused-canadian-enters-not-guilty-plea.html.
Canadian woman, three others to stand trial in failed Gaddafi smuggling plot: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/canadian-woman-three-others-to-stand.html.
Canadian woman behind Gaddafi plot advertised "Instant Response Team" http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/canadian-in-gadhafi-smuggling.html.
Mexico breaks up Gaddafi smuggling plot: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/mexico-busts-plan-by-gaddafi-son-to.html.
Former U.S. TV producer will stand trial in Cancún murder case: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/former-us-tv-producer-of-survivor-bound.html.
University of British Columbia student, boyfriend found murdered in Oaxaca: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/university-of-british-columbia-student.html.
Canadian murdered on Pacific coast - but lingering questions, mystery remain: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/canadian-murdered-on-pacific-coast.html.
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