MONTREAL — The man accused in the death of a woman who fell from a third-storey balcony on New Year's Day is now facing a manslaughter charge.
James Theramene, who is 31, appeared in court Thursday, where the Crown laid the new charge against him in the death of 31-year-old Tadjan’ah Desir, who died days after the fall in hospital.
Theramene had initially been charged with aggravated assault.
The incident occurred on New Year's Day at about 8:15 a.m. in the east-end Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough.
A witness told police that an altercation had escalated on a third-floor balcony between the woman and the suspect before the woman fell and was found on the ground below the Ste-Catherine Street apartment.
Her death is the city's first reported homicide in 2026.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 16, 2026.
The Canadian Press