September 21, 2007 (Quebec City, QC) – Myriam Bedard has been found guilty on charges of kidnapping her own daughter. A jury of six men and six women pronounced the verdict yesterday in Quebec Superior Court. 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. By coincidence, that day was both her 37th birthday and the 12th birthday of her daughter.

Bedard then spent 13 days in US detention centres before being extradited to Quebec City on January 4. At a January 5 hearing in Quebec City, Bedard was released on bail, conditional to her surrendering her passport, remaining in Quebec, and only visiting with her daughter in the company of another adult.

Sentencing is reserved for October 9th and Bedard is free on bail until then. Bedard’s lawyer, John Pepper Jr, is expected to ask that his client be absolved of any wrongdoing. The maximum sentence in such a case is 10 years in prison.

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