Charged with attempted murder, fugitive historian sought by Interpol after slipping out of Canada

Sebastien Normandin has a PhD in history from McGill University and for three years was a visiting instructor at Michigan State University. A 2013 textbook he co-edited, “Vitalism and the Scientific Image in Post-Enlightenment Life Science, 1800-2010” has been downloaded more than 11,000 times.

But recently Normandin’s public writing has been confined to Twitter and Facebook, and he’s not keeping any campus office hours. The former academic was last spotted en route to France, authorities say, fleeing charges that he attempted to murder his ex-girlfriend and her new partner in Victoria.

The 47-year-old Quebec native’s name and photo were recently added to Interpol’s list of international fugitives, joining a rogue’s gallery of 50 suspects wanted by Canada for murder, terrorism and other serious crimes. The Interpol “red notice” is a request to police worldwide to locate and arrest Normandin.

Normandin was initially arrested following a serious car crash in Victoria on Dec. 27, 2016. In a news release announcing Normandin’s arrest, Victoria Police said there was “a long history of domestic violence between two of the people involved. Investigators believe that one of the vehicles was driven by a man who intentionally drove at other people in an attempt to harm them.” One of the victims – their identities are protected by a court order — suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.

Normandin faces two charges of attempted murder, as well as charges of assault causing bodily harm, criminal harassment and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. ...