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CTV.CA MONTREAL, QUEBEC CANADA  PHOTO: Fabio-Nicola Cavaliere and Roberto Sforza were taped by a news helicopter, as they arrested Anne-Marie Peladeau in October 2005. Two Montreal police officers were acquitted Thursday on charges stemming from their 2005 arrest of Quebecor heiress Anne-Marie Peladeau. A Quebec judge ruled Thursday that Fabio-Nicola Cavaliere and Roberto Sforza may have used too much force during the arrest, but their actions were not criminal. The judge said the officers used "vigourous yet legitimate force" to restrain Peladeau, who witnesses described as hysterical, saying she was biting, kicking and spitting at the officers. The October 2005 arrest, which followed a robbery and high-speed police chase, made headlines when it was caught on tape by a TVA news helicopter. While the airborne camera rolled, officers could be seen struggling with a handcuffed woman. Several times it appeared as though an officer was punching her in the back. As police shoved the woman headfirst into a patrol car, her head struck the doorframe. The arresting officer and a colleague were then seen taking the woman to the other side of the car where her head again hit the cruiser. A few seconds later, with the suspect inside the car, a baton was prodded through the open door. Peladeau later pleaded guilty to several criminal charges including theft, assaulting police officers, drug trafficking and obstructing justice. One year after the incident, she pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, but later changed her story and said she did not resist. She changed her version of the events several times afterwards, leading the judge to reject her testimony. In court on Thursday, Peladeau remained expressionless even as the judge told the court her testimony lacked sincerity and credibility. Peladeau is the daughter of late media baron Pierre Peladeau, who founded the Quebecor empire, owner of numerous newspapers including The Toronto Sun and Le Journal de Montreal. Cavaliere and Sforza are now suing her for $1.5 million, for defamation as well as injuries they incurred during the car chase.
THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL Two Montreal police officers were found not guilty Thursday of assaulting the heiress to a Quebec publishing empire while they were arresting her. Judge Martin Vauclair said in his judgment that he did not find Anne-Marie Peladeau, the alleged victim, was credible. He said the two officers used legitimate force in detaining Peladeau, who witnesses said bit, kicked and spat at police. Peladeau is the daughter of the late Pierre Peladeau, the media titan who founded Quebecor, the owner of a number of Canadian newspapers including The Toronto Sun and Le Journal de Montreal. The police officers were videotaped by a news helicopter as they wrestled with Peladeau after stopping a car containing her and a man on a city street on Oct. 12, 2005. The arrest followed a robbery and a high-speed chase. Peladeau pleaded guilty after the incident to theft, assaulting police officers, drug trafficking and obstructing justice. The acquitted police officers are suing Peladeau for defamation and injuries they suffered in the car chase.
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