John Clark and Bianca Rojas Latraverse will be behind bars throughout the trial in the December 21st robbery and beating of WSOP Main Event Champion Jonathan Duhamel. The judge has referred to Bianca Rojas Latraverse as the mastermind behind the robbery.
Quebec Court Judge Pierre Belisle has said that Latraverse gave key information to the thieves after having been in a relationship last year with the victim - Jonathan Duhamel - she knew where his valuables were kept and when he would be home.
“The crime was heinous, planned, structured and committed in cold blood,” Belisle said.
The morning of the December 21st, 2011, found Duhamel opening the door of his condo to a man holding a package. Soon Duhamel was forced to tell them the combination to his safe after two men overpowered him and bound him with duct tape. The men took a Rolex watch, an iPhone, over $100,000 in cash, and Duhamel's WSOP gold bracelet.
The judge noted that Rojas Latraverse was convicted of reckless driving in Ottawa and she has stated she earns a living playing poker at the Montreal Casino and in Kahnawake.
“She took advantage of her relationship (with Duhamel) ... to prepare her plan,” he said. “Duhamel had to be home and she knew when he’d be there.
“As the conspirator, she has to take responsibility for her actions.”
Rojas Latraverse sent text messages to someone that she knew three weeks before the crime was committed, telling them that she planned to rob her former boyfriend according to evidence that was presented at the Longueuil Courthouse last week during a bail hearing. Her plans to Rob Duhamel were exposed in the text messages and she also named Bourque and Clark as her accomplices.
Anthony Bourque was released on $5,000 bail with strict conditions on a curfew and living arrangements along with other requirements. His lawyer, Christos Karteris, has said that his client has never been in trouble.
All three of them will be back in court on February 21st, 2012.
André Robert-Perron is the fourth suspect in the robbery and is accused of covering up the robbery. He was released from custody last month with a promise to appear in court at a later date.
Information gathered from MontrealGazette.com and PokerNews.com
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