Pauline Marois breaks silence on Richard Bain trial
Former PQ leader was target of Bain's attack on Montreal nightclub that left one dead, another wounded
Former Parti Québécois premier Pauline Marois broke her silence on the Richard Bain trial in an interview with Radio-Canada on Saturday.
Bain was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 20 years Friday, for his deadly attack on Marois' election night victory rally at a Montreal nightclub on Sept 4, 2012.
"I'm satisfied with the decision," Marois said. "Justice has been served."
Armed with a semi-automatic rifle, Bain killed lighting technician Denis Blanchette and seriously wounded stagehand David Courage with a single bullet before his gun jammed.
Bain was found guilty of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder in August.
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'An attempted assassination'
Upon his arrest that night, Bain yelled "the English are waking up" and, months later, told a psychiatrist "the plan was to kill as many separatists as I could, the head, the new MPs, their leader, their backbone."
Marois called the attack an "attempted assassination," but said she never tried to use it for political advantage.
"Though he spoke of anglophone anger towards us, I never tried to use that. I worried about exacerbating our relations with Anglo-Quebecers, and I definitely did not want that," she said.
While saying the focus should be on the Blanchette and Courage, Marois acknowledged being "traumatized" by the violence herself.
"It was the night of my election, we we're in the process of celebrating when this man attacked us because we were sovereigntists and he saw me as a 'bitch,'" Marois said.
"If his gun hadn't jammed, the carnage could have been much worse."
Marois said she tried to put the events of that night behind her and focus on governing the province.
"I had a plan for what I wanted to do as premier, but I was limited by the fact we had a minority government."