Jury in Richard Bain's murder trial hears of political motive

The trial of the man accused of attacking the Parti Québécois's 2012 election night party began Thursday, with the Crown arguing that the deadly shooting was premeditated and prompted by political reasons. 

Prosecutor Dennis Galiatsatos told the eight women and six men of the jury that he will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Richard Henry Bain shot and killed lighting technician Denis Blanchette outside a Montreal nightclub as the PQ was celebrating its victory.

The 65-year-old Bain also faces three charges of attempted murder and two weapons-related counts.

The Crown will present jurors with testimony from about 50 witnesses, including Montreal and provincial police, employees of the Metropolis nightclub and David Courage, a stagehand Bain is accused of attempting to kill that night.

Bain, who watched the proceedings attentively from the witness box on Thursday wearing a cream-coloured neck brace, has pleaded not guilty to all six charges against him.

Video from night of shooting

Galiatsatos told the jury it will see video from the night of the shooting, including black-and-white surveillance video and footage shot by a CBC/Radio-Canada cameraman who was covering the election night rally.

He told the jury he intends to prove Bain was angry that he wasn't allowed to vote earlier in the day because he wasn't registered in his riding after a change of address.

Galiatsatos also told jurors he would show Bain put on a ski mask and blue bathrobe after hearing on CBC Radio that the PQ's Pauline Marois had been elected premier and approached one of the entrances of Metropolis, where a group of stage hands had gathered.

The Crown contends Bain fired one bullet from a semi-automatic rifle, hitting both Blanchette and Courage before his weapon jammed.

Blanchette died of his injuries at the scene. The same bullet hit Courage in his pelvis and shattered his tailbone.

'The English are waking up'

The Crown's case will show Bain was heavily armed, with not only a rifle and 9mm handgun, but also flares, other incendiary devices and additional weapons in his nearby van, Galiatsatos said. 

The prosecutor also said he will call witnesses to testify that Bain modified his rifle's magazine clips to allow for more bullets, instead of the legal limit of five.

The first witness, Sûreté du Québec crime scene investigator Guillaume Vezeau, did just that – holding up for the jury the rifle police seized from Bain after his arrest and telling jurors the weapon had 27 rounds in it.

The prosecution intends to prove Bain was politically motivated to shoot Marois, said Galiatsatos, who told the jury Bain spoke to onlookers as he was being led away after his arrest, saying "the English are waking up."

The Crown will also enter as evidence several recordings of media interviews Bain did while incarcerated after his arrest in which he outlines his political motivations.

A video statement of Bain's brother speaking to police one month after the shooting will also be shown in court.

Quebec Supreme Court Justice Guy Cournoyer warned the jury many of the witnesses will testify in French, with simultaneous translation.

Galiatsatos echoed that in his opening statement as he thanked the jury in advance for their "important duty."

'He's very calm,' lawyer says

The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks.

"It looks like it's going to be a long one," Bain's lawyer, Alan Guttman, told reporters outside the courtroom.

Asked about his client's state of mind, Guttman answered: "He's very calm, he's taking it in stride."

• Jury now in place for Richard Bain's murder trial

Sitting in the courtroom was a Metropolis stage technician who knew Blanchette and felt he needed to be there for the start of the murder trial.

"There were a few difficult moments," said Gael Ghiringhelli, referring to some photos presented to the jury that showed the victim's body lying on the ground, covered by a sheet. 

"I knew it would happen, but I need to [be here] to turn the page." 

Ghiringhelli wasn't working at Metropolis on election night, but he stopped by and was near his friends when he heard a shot fired. 

"I want to see the attitude and reactions of Mr. Bain [because] I had my back to him and never saw him that night," he told reporters, adding it's been a difficult wait for the trial to start. 

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.