Preliminary hearing begins for Quebec man charged with murder in daycare bus crash

The aftermath of a bus crash outside a daycare centre in Laval, Que, is shown on Feb. 9, 2023. A preliminary hearing is underway for a Quebec man accused of killing two young children by allegedly driving a city bus into a Montreal-area daycare in February 2023. Pierre Ny St-Amand was arrested after a city bus crashed into the front of a daycare in the Ste-Rose neighbourhood of Laval, Que., on Feb. 8, 2023, killing two young children and injuring six other children. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

SAINT-JÉRÔME, Que. — A preliminary hearing is underway for a Quebec man accused of killing two young children by allegedly driving a city bus into a Montreal-area daycare last year.

Pierre Ny St-Amand was arrested after a transit bus crashed into the front of a daycare in the Ste-Rose neighbourhood of Laval, Que., on Feb. 8, 2023, killing two young children and injuring six others.

The 52-year-old former city bus driver faces two counts of first-degree murder as well as seven other charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

During a preliminary hearing, a judge hears evidence and determines whether it is sufficient for the case to be sent to trial. 

St-Amand was impassive as he listened to testimony this morning from the first of 13 witnesses the Crown intends to call over the next four days.

A publication ban covers the names of the young victims as well as the evidence being presented.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2024.

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said St-Amand was 51 years old.