 |
| Leslie McWilliams, left, and Alfred Pinisch, right were killed in the FLQ attack |
Time to remember Leslie McWilliams and Alfred Pinisch who died in a senseless event 50 years ago today due to Francois Schirm, the killer who died earlier this month at age 82. Schirm moved to Canada in 1956 from Hungary after fighting for the French foreign legion in Vietnam and Algerie.
He was talked into joining the PQ precursor RIN by translator André D’Allemagne and chemist Marcel Chaput in 1960.
Schirm formed the military arm of the early FLQ along with Pierre Tousignant and Gilles Turcot.
 |
| Schirm in prison |
Schirm was hoping to get weapons from the store, presumably for future FLQ armed attacks
He entered carrying a rifle as if he was a normal customer. Pinisch got him to remove the clip from the he was carrying, which is normal procedure. But then Schirm took another bullet from his pocket, placed it in the firearm in and demanded weapons.
McWilliams wasn't aware of what was going on, so he told Schirm not to point the rifle.
Schirm just shot him dead on the spot, "like a dog," according to one police officer.
Schirm was with partner Edmond Guenette when they murdered International Firearms Company VP Leslie McWilliams, 58, of 5145 de Lanaudiere).
In the shootout cops, who were investigating another robbery across the street, accidentally shot and killed salesman Alfred Pinisch, 37, of (6540 Clanranald) at a gun shop at 1011 Bleury.
Schirm was shot in the thigh, arrested and taken to hospital. Guenette commandeered a taxi and ordered the driver to take him to Frontenac and Belanger, which makes no sense because the streets don't cross.
Schirm defended himself in court, giving a 180 minute speech, which was fruitless because Schirm and Guenette were sentenced to hang in October 1965. He flashed a defiant V sign upon learning of the verdict.
The sentence was commuted and he served a mere 10 years. In 1974 and Canada unsuccessfully tried to export Schirm back to Hungary.
Sadly, Schirm remained unrepentant.
After his release Schirim became a truck driver but launched a petition in 1985 to try to get easier treatment for the FLQ people.
One ironic element: without Schirm's parental guidance Schirm's daughter Sylvie Schirm grew up without any of his prejudices and is solidly bilingual and a well-respected lawyer here in Montreal now.