A Montreal man initially charged with aggravated assault following a woman's fall from a third-storey balcony on New Year's Day now faces a manslaughter charge after the victim succumbed to her injuries.
Not Guilty Plea Entered in Court
James Theramene, 31, pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge during a court appearance on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The charge relates to the death of Tadjan'ah Desir, 31, who died five days after the incident. Theramene appeared via video conference from a city jail before Quebec Court Judge Marie Kettlyne Ruben.
Through his lawyer, William McCann, Theramene formally entered his plea. The original charge of aggravated assault was withdrawn by the Crown and replaced with the more serious count of manslaughter.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The incident occurred on the morning of January 1, 2026, at approximately 8:15 a.m. in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. According to police accounts based on witness statements, Desir fell from a third-storey balcony of a building located on Ste-Catherine Street East, near Jeanne-d’Arc Avenue.
Neighbours reported witnessing a man push the woman off the balcony during an altercation. Emergency services found Desir unconscious on the sidewalk. She was transported to hospital but died from her injuries on January 5. Her death is recorded as the first homicide on Montreal police territory in 2026.
Bail Conditions and Publication Ban
During Thursday's hearing, prosecutor Anne-Andrée Charette informed the court that the Crown no longer objected to Theramene's release, provided he adhere to strict conditions. One key condition requires his father to deposit $5,000 for bail.
The prosecutor also successfully requested a publication ban on the reasons for sealing Theramene's home address. Judge Ruben granted the request despite an objection from a Journal de Montréal reporter present in the courtroom. The defence did not provide advance notice of the publication ban request, which is standard practice to allow media outlets to have legal representation present.
The case is scheduled to return to court in March for further proceedings.
In the wake of the tragedy, the victim's sister, Cynthia Desir, created a GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses. The campaign, with a goal of $12,000, had raised over $11,000 as of last Thursday.
