Trial begins for man charged in connection with stabbing at Longueuil, Que., courthouse |

The trial of a man who allegedly attacked a courthouse employee on Montreal’s South Shore two years ago started on Monday. 

Alexandre Garcés, 46, is facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon. 

A court interpreter was stabbed several times at the Longueuil, Que., courthouse on Jan. 9, 2024. Investigators say they believe the victim was chosen at random. 

At the scene, police arrested Garcés, who was allegedly armed with four knives, including one with a retractable blade. 

The victim, Hai Thach, 72, appeared to be in relatively good health Monday. 

“Mentally, I am OK,” he told Radio-Canada.

During his testimony, he said he had no prior connection to Garcés. The court interpreter, who has been in the field for 35 years, returned to work in March 2025.

He also detailed the significant suffering he endured following the assault.

To this day, he says he experiences a tightening sensation in his head and numbness in his legs. 

“Sometimes, I feel like they don’t belong to me, and I have trouble standing up,” Thach said.

The defence had requested that the judge postpone the start of the trial to a later date, but the request was denied. 

People who were at the scene during the attack are scheduled to testify on Monday and Tuesday.

The assault turned the spotlight on the issue of safety in Quebec courthouses. In the days following the event, the government provided handheld metal detectors to special constables in Longueuil, allowing them to systematically search all visitors to the courthouse.