Man faces manslaughter charge after woman allegedly pushed from balcony dies | CBC News
Listen to this article
Estimated 1 minute
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The man arrested after a woman was allegedly pushed from a third-storey balcony in Montreal on New Year’s Day has now been charged with manslaughter.
James Théramène, 31, was charged with aggravated assault the day after the incident, but the charge was upgraded on Thursday at the Montreal courthouse, since the victim — Tadjan’ah Desir — died from her injuries four days after the fall.
Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant said officers were called around 8:15 a.m. on Jan. 1 to an apartment building on Ste-Catherine Street near Pie-IX Boulevard, in the borough of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Police say there was an altercation before the woman was pushed from a three-storey balcony. She was found unconscious on the ground and taken to hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
The accused is expected to be released Thursday afternoon, under conditions.
Police say the woman’s death marks the first homicide of 2026 in Montreal.