Friends of victim Denis Blanchette faithfully attend Richard Bain murder trial
Jonathan Dubé and two other backstage workers got the same tattoo in memory of their friend and colleague
Almost every day of the Richard Bain murder trial, a group of stagehands file into the room at the Montreal courthouse and sit quietly a few metres away from the man accused of killing their friend Denis Blanchette.
When the court breaks for a few minutes, Jonathan Dubé waits in the hallway with his friends, chatting.
He's covered in several tattoos, and he points to one on his arm. It's a wrench with a date inscribed on the handle: 4-09-12 — the day Blanchette was killed.
"Denis was a close friend," Dubé explains.
He said the wrench is a symbol for him and his colleagues.
"We always have it on us. We use it for everything."
Bain is accused of first-degree murder in the death of lighting technician Denis Blanchette, who was killed outside the Parti Québécois election-night victory rally at the Metropolis concert hall.
Three backstage workers, including Dubé, got the same tattoo in memory of Blanchette.
Dubé explains that most stagehands are good friends because they work odd hours together, setting up at clubs during the day and going back late at night to tear it all down.
After the work is done, they'll often grab beers and talk into the early morning hours.
That's how Dubé got to know Blanchette.
The night of the attack at the Metropolis, they were among a group of roughly 10 technicians waiting at the back entrance of the concert hall.
Dubé testified in the second week of Bain's trial.
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He told the jury he'd been smoking, standing next to Blanchette on the back steps, while inside, Parti Québécois supporters cheered their election win.
Dubé recalled it was around midnight when he heard a bang and then saw the gunman.
After running for cover in a nearby pizzeria, Dubé said he ended up at a bar with several other technicians.
That's where they waited, drinking and watching the television for any news.
"I tried to call Denis 20 times maybe, then I realized…" he told the court, trailing off at the end of his sentence.
The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks, and Dubé and a few other stagehands say they'll be in court every day as often as possible.
When asked about giving an on-camera interview, Dubé and the others shy away.
They explain they don't have much else to say, adding that anyone in their situation would do the same for a friend.
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