Nunavik man found guilty of first-degree murder

Randy Koneak has been found guilty of the first-degree murder of Chloé Labrie.

Labrie was alone in her Kuujjuaq home late on June 11, 2018, when Koneak shot her in the head, killing her instantly, and then sexually assaulted the 28-year-old medical technician from Victoriaville, Que.

The 12-member jury also found Koneak guilty of a second charge of causing an indignity to human remains.

The Nunavik jury returned its verdict in the late afternoon on Friday, Dec. 4, two days after the two-week long trial wrapped up in Kuujjuaq.

Superior Court of Quebec judge Guy de Blois then sentenced Koneak, 22, to life imprisonment. He’ll serve a minimum of 25 years before being eligible for parole.

On the second charge, the Crown and defence lawyers agreed on a two-year sentence, to be served concurrently.

Koneak was present in the courtroom Dec. 4, but was not visible in the video stream of the court proceedings.

“Good luck, Mr. Koneak,” Judge de Blois said. “Sincerely, good luck.”

The night she died, two shots had been fired at Labrie: one that grazed the back of her head, which a ballistics expert testified likely came through the window, as well as a second shot to her head, which was fatal.

Chloé Labrie, 28, was killed in her Kuujjuaq home early June 12, 2018. Randy Koneak, 22, of Kuujjuaq was found guilty of first-degree murder on Dec. 4, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Grégoire & Desrochers)

Koneak’s defence lawyer, Jordan Trevick, argued there was no evidence or casings from the second shot to prove Koneak entered the home to shoot Labrie.

Koneak also testified that he had consumed alcohol and drugs starting early in the day June 11. The defence said that Koneak was far too intoxicated that evening to have planned to murder Labrie, nor could he have targeted the woman by shooting through her window.

But the Crown argued there was enough evidence to prove that Koneak was fuelled by anger and alcohol that night and that he went out looking for a gun and someone to kill.