Mike on Crime

By Bruce Owen
Winnipeg Free Press

A Hells Angels associate blames his role in the city’s drug world for the still-unsolved murders of his parents and brother in St. Leon more than a year ago, a National Parole Board document says.

Denis Jerome Labossiere, currently serving a six-year prison sentence, told parole officials the November 2005 deaths of Fernand, Rita and Remi Labossiere were connected to his involvement selling drugs.

“If the board needs any indication that you were involved in a dangerous subculture, it need look no further than the tragedy surrounding the murders of your parents and brother,” the parole board document said.

“You attribute their deaths to your involvement in the trafficking of cocaine.”

The admission is the first time Labossiere has linked the slayings to his life of crime.

RCMP continue to investigate the slayings.
Labossiere, 36, is serving a six-year prison sentence at Stony Mountain Institution for trafficking two kilograms of almost pure cocaine for the Hells Angels. He was arrested more than a year ago in an undercover sting operation that resulted in the arrests of three members of the Hells Angels for drug and other offences.

Fernand, Rita and Remi Labossiere were found dead in the charred rubble of their family farmhouse just outside St. Leon, southwest of Winnipeg. At first it was believed they perished in an accidental fire, but further forensic investigation showed each had been shot prior to the mysterious fire.

The parole board decision sheets were prepared last month as Jerome is eligible for day parole May 29 — by that time he will have served one year of his six-year sentence.

However, day parole does not seem likely, according to the document.

“The board is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that, if released, you are likely to commit an offence involving violence before the expiration of your sentence and therefore, directs that you not be released,” the decision sheet says.

“Your offending appears directly related to your criminal values, negative associations and to greed,” it continues. “You have been dubbed a “highly sophisticated trafficker” and the Board has made the determination that you have been part of a subculture which condones the use of instrumental violence.”

The family’s $1.3-million estate is now tied up in the courts over a fight between the family and Jerome Labossiere.

Remi created a will in August 2000 in which he designated six nephews and nieces to receive the assets of his 690-acre farmland, house, machinery and other personal goods. Remi had taken over the farm operation from his father. However, Jerome claims his brother Remi produced a new will in July 2005 that leaves all of Remi’s property to him and his family.