Richard Bain upset he couldn't vote on day of PQ election night shooting, court hears
Man accused of attacking Parti Québécois's 2012 election-night victory party
A former Quebec election employee who spoke with Richard Bain the day of the attack on the Parti Québécois's 2012 election-night victory party says Bain was unhappy that he couldn't vote, a jury heard Friday at the Montreal courthouse.
Crown prosecutor Dennis Galiatsatos has argued that the deadly shooting on the night of Sept. 4, 2012, was premeditated and prompted by political reasons.
Bain faces six charges, including first-degree murder in the death of lighting technician Denis Blanchette outside Montreal's Metropolis theatre as the PQ was celebrating its election win.
The 65-year-old Bain also faces three charges of attempted murder and two weapons-related counts.
The Crown's second witness, who is now retired, testified in Quebec Superior Court that she received a call from a riding office in La Conception the day of the attack.
Caroline Huot testified she was asked to check if a man by the name of Richard Bain was on the voter's list for the riding. She said he was, in fact, on the list for Repentigny.
Huot testified that Bain then asked to speak with her directly, an unusual request, according to Huot, but she agreed to it.
She recalled that Bain told her he hadn't lived in Repentigny for three years, but Huot said she explained that it was his duty to make the change of address on the electoral list.
Huot told the court he replied to her in an "arrogant tone," telling her that he was a hunter and came from a family of great hunters.
When the defence pressed Huot further, she said Bain did not make any threats, and that the call ended with her telling Bain to have a good day.
SUV parked nearby contained firearms, machete
Earlier on Friday, the court heard testimony from a police investigator about the evidence found at the crime scene.
Along with firearms, ammunition and a machete, investigators found a $150 ticket to a Liberal Party of Canada fundraiser in an SUV near the site of the PQ election night shooting.
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, who was a Liberal member of Parliament at the time, was named on the ticket as a guest speaker for the event.
The item was among a long list of evidence submitted on Day 2 of Bain's trial at the Montreal courthouse, during the testimony of Quebec provincial police Sgt. Guillaume Vezeau.
Vezeau, the head crime-scene investigator for the Sûreté du Québec, also presented the jury with photos of two long guns, a pistol and a bulletproof vest found inside a black Yukon SUV near the site of the shooting.
Those weapons are in addition to a rifle and a handgun found near the site of the shooting, the court heard.
A parking receipt from the MUHC's Royal Victoria Hospital dated earlier that day, along with a bag of prescription medication from a pharmacy, were also found in the vehicle, Vezeau said.
The Crown contends Bain fired one bullet from a semi-automatic rifle, hitting both Blanchette and Dave Courage, another stage hand injured in the shooting, before his weapon jammed.
Bain, who was wearing a neck brace in court following a recent operation, listened to the testimony with a neutral expression on his face and his arms folded.
During cross-examination, Alan Guttman, Bain's lawyer, pressed Vezeau about what time investigators arrived on the scene the morning after the attack and what time photos were first taken of the crime scene.
He also questioned why Vezeau thought it was necessary to submit as evidence a photograph of a federal Liberal fundraiser, given that the PQ is a provincial party.
"I thought it was an important element," Vezeau replied.
"It's not my place to decide if there's a link or not."
Story continues after the live blog below.
Bain was politically motivated, Crown says
In his opening statement on Thursday, the Crown prosecutor said he intends to demonstrate Bain was politically motivated to shoot then PQ leader Pauline Marois.
The Crown will present jurors with testimony from about 50 witnesses, including Montreal and provincial police, employees of the Metropolis and David Courage, a stagehand Bain is accused of attempting to kill that night.
Bain has pleaded not guilty to all six charges laid against him.
Although Bain was charged shortly after the shooting, the trial has been delayed several times and for several different reasons, such as Bain's failed attempts to find legal representation and a planned surgical operation for the accused.
The trial continues on Monday.