Guy Lafleur acquitted of giving contradictory testimony at son’s bail hearing

Lafleur acquitted of contradictory testimony

MONTREAL — Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur was acquitted by the Quebec Court of Appeal on Tuesday of giving contradictory testimony at his son’s bail hearing.

The three-judge panel ruled the trial judge erred when he decided Lafleur knew his son Mark was supposed to remain at his parents’ home when he was away from the rehabilitation center where he resided.

Lafleur was convicted in May 2009 and given a one-year suspended sentence, fined $100 and ordered to donate $10,000 to charity.

It wasn’t immediately known whether the prosecution would seek appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Louis Belleau, Lafleur’s lawyer, said his client was happy about the decision. Lafleur had no immediate comment.

Lafleur’s problems started after he told the court in September 2007 that his son always respected his court-ordered curfew and never consumed drugs and alcohol on his watch. At the time, he had agreed to supervise his son and ensure he abided by court orders.

But during another court hearing a month later, he admitted that he drove his son to a hotel for an intimate encounter with his 16-year-old girlfriend on two occasions.

Mark Lafleur pleaded guilty in February 2009 to several charges including uttering death threats, forcible confinement and assault. He was given a 15-month conditional sentence.

Lafleur, who won five Stanley Cups in 14 seasons in Montreal, has filed a $3.5-million civil lawsuit against the Montreal police and Quebec solicitor general over the arrest warrant used to detain him in 2008. The arrest triggered a media frenzy that Lafleur said was humiliating.