Montreal

Man charged with Longueuil woman's death

A man was charged with second-degree murder in the death of a Longueuil woman whose body was found in the basement of a home in Montreal.
The body of missing Longueuil woman Pamela Jean was found in the basement of a home on Hotel de Ville street in Montreal North on Jan. 4. (Montreal police)

A man was charged with second-degree murder in the death of a Longueuil woman whose body was found in the basement of a home in Montreal.

Juan Fermin Palma appeared at the Montreal courthouse on Monday. (SPVM)

Police found the body of Pamela Jean, 27, on Jan. 4 in a home where Juan Fermin Palma lived on Hôtel-de-Ville Avenue in Montreal North.

Palma's lawyer, Valerie Acosta, said there had been two previous domestic violence charges against him but they had been withdrawn at Jean's request because she did not want to testify.

According to Const. Simon Delorme, the woman had been in a relationship with Palma.

The 32-year-old male suspect was known to police, he said.

Jean's family had reported her missing last week. She was last seen on Dec. 30 in downtown Montreal, where she went to shop.

Police have not yet confirmed the cause of death.

Palma is set to appear in court on Feb. 4. He was ordered not to be in contact with members of Jean's family.

This case is Montreal's first homicide of the year.