Case against man accused of pushing woman off balcony postponed as Crown considers new charges

A woman was seriously injured and a man has been charged after she was allegedly pushed from a third-storey balcony. (Martin Rioux/CTV News)

The family of a 31-year-old woman who died after she was allegedly pushed off a third-floor balcony was speaking out at the Montreal courthouse Monday.

“My daughter died from a third floor, a man killed her,” says Ingrid Desir, a week after her daughter, Tadjan’ah Desir, died of her injuries sustained after the fall on Jan. 1.

“She was my Barbie, she was my girl.”

Eyewitnesses reported seeing a man pushing the woman over the balcony of an apartment building on Ste-Catherine Street East at the corner of Jeanne D’Arc Avenue in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. She landed on the sidewalk three floors below.

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James Theramene, 31, of Laval, was arrested at the scene, and charged with aggravated assault. However, following the woman’s death in hospital five days later, the prosecution announced additional charges would be laid against Theramene.

During a brief court hearing Monday, the defence asked for a postponement until Jan. 15 because the prosecution was still preparing its case. The accused was not present, and so far, it’s not clear what new charges could be laid.

Desir’s family stormed out of the court room, visibly upset.

“I’m still going through my grieving and now I have to return to court Thursday,” said her mother, surrounded by family and friends outside the Montreal courtroom.

“And only Friday will I be able to bury her.”