BIKER NEWS: Hells Angel hitman-turned-informant asking for early parole

BIKER NEWS -- Stephane 'Godasse' Gagné, a Hells Angel hitman who murdered two prison guards in 1997, is once again asking to win parole.

This time, he has the support of several police officers and Crown lawyers.

Gagné murdered several people in 1996 and 1997 under the orders of Maurice 'Mom' Boucher, the leader of the Quebec branch of the Hells Angels. 

Among those he killed were prison guards Diane Lavigne and Pierre Rondeau, and he was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole until 2023.

However, because of the faint hope clause, Gagné is allowed to ask for parole to be granted after just 15 years, which he is doing now for the third year in a row.

Before and after his conviction Gagné has co-operated with law authorities, becoming an informant. In 1998 he pleaded guilty to the murder of Lavigne, and to the attempted murder of another guard, Robert Corriveau.

His testimony was used to convict Boucher double murder for his role in leading the biker war between the Hells Angels and the Rock Machine.

In 2009 Gagné testified for the Crown to help convict his murderous partner Paul 'Fon Fon' Fontaine for the death of Rondeau.

For the past two years Gagné has applied to the courts to have his parole granted early, but each time has been refused. 

Now Gagné is applying again, after spending 18 years behind bars, and he has the support of legal authorities as well.

About a dozen police officers, Crown lawyers, and a Superior Court Justice have sent letters of support to the judge handling the case, saying Gagné has earned his release, based on his role in getting Boucher convicted.

The director of Quebec's criminal and justice system (DPCP) also agrees that Gagné should go free.

Gagné testified Monday how turning informant on the Hells Angels destroyed his life. He was never paid by police, and was kept in solitary confinement in prison for seven years for his own safety, and will remain a marked man his entire life.

But even though the Crown agrees with defence lawyers that Gagné should be released from prison, the decision is not up to lawyers and judges: it is in the hands of a jury. 

The prison guard's union appears to be the only group that opposes Gagné’s parole.

This article was first published on November 16, 2015 11:38AM EST

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