The father of a LaSalle man on trial for murder testified Friday that his son was heavily intoxicated the morning after confessing to killing a Lakeshore man in 2024.
Glen Mayer, 49, asked his father, Ghyslain Mayer, to drive him to a LaSalle police station to turn himself in hours after prosecutors say he shot and killed Tony Bechara, 47, on Jan. 20, 2024.
“He was talking but he was slurring,” Ghyslain Mayer said about the car ride. “It wasn’t clear. I could tell he was drunk. Wasted. I’d never seen him like this.”
Father describes son’s condition
Ghyslain Mayer told the court that his son appeared disoriented and unable to speak clearly. “When you look at a person, you know if they’re there or not. He wasn’t there, in my opinion,” he said.
Mayer is on trial for first-degree murder before Superior Court Justice J. Ross Macfarlane. Surveillance footage from the LaSalle Police Department showed Mayer and his father arriving and conversing in the lobby.
“Oh man, why did you do that?” the father says in the video.
“Come on Pa, I had a fight and things were weird and the guy died,” Mayer responds.
Details of the alleged confession
During cross-examination, Ghyslain said his son told him on the drive that he had argued with another man about an affair with his wife. “He said I got in a fight with him. It went crazy all of a sudden. We just argued. A fight came on. All of a sudden, I shot him,” Ghyslain recounted.
Under re-examination by assistant Crown attorney Craig Houle, Ghyslain admitted he had not previously told police about the mention of a fight before Friday’s court session.
Witness describes heavy drinking
Relative Sargon Sarkis testified that Mayer had been drinking heavily and was intoxicated the night before the homicide. Sarkis, who was staying at Mayer’s home for the weekend, said Mayer appeared visibly upset and was screaming and arguing with his wife throughout the night.
“He’s not somebody you see falling all over the place or slurring, but that night he seemed more impaired than I’ve ever seen him before,” Sarkis said. “When you look at a person, you know if they’re there or not. He wasn’t there, in my opinion. He was not Glen. He’s there physically but not there.”
Police dispatcher testimony
Crown witness Sarah Carr, a LaSalle police dispatcher, told jurors she spoke with Mayer at the station when he turned himself in. In surveillance footage, Mayer says, “It’s pretty important. It’s a murder.” When Carr asks, “A murder?” Mayer replies, “Yep. I’m involved. I’m turning myself in.” He adds, “I know it’s crazy. Sounds crazy? I’m calm, it’s OK.”
The trial continues.
