October 10, 2007 (Quebec City, QC) – Myriam Bedard was handed a conditional sentence yesterday from Quebec Superior Court Justice Jean-Claude Beaulieu following her September 20 conviction on kidnapping charges.

Bedard must serve two years probation, surrender her passport to authorities and not possess any firearms. Judge Beaulieu noted that Bedard showed no remorse for her actions, but took into account the 14 days that Bedard has already served in American and Canadian detention centres. The maximum sentence in such a case is 10 years in prison. Bedard’s lawyer, John Pepper Jr, had requested that his client be absolved to allow her unrestricted travel. Pepper is already appealing the guilty verdict.

On October 2, 2006, Bedard left for the USA with her daughter, but without properly informing her former husband, Jean Paquet, of her plans or whereabouts in contravention of their child custody agreement. This led to the issuing of an international arrest warrant and the apprehension of Bedard on December 22 near Washington, DC. The daughter is now 12-years-old.

Bedard, 37, from Quebec City, won gold medals in biathlon at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics in both the 7.5km and the 15km events. Paquet is also a former biathlete.