Montreal·Video

Richard Bain murder trial: Security video shows accused walking towards Metropolis

In grainy security footage submitted to the court on Monday, Richard Bain is seen climbing out of his black SUV and walking towards the back of the Metropolis club moments before the fatal shooting.

Bain accused of shooting Denis Blanchette outside 2012 Parti Québécois victory rally

Sped-up security video shows Richard Bain moments before shooting

8 years ago
Duration 1:46
Parking lot security cam captures Richard Bain's arrest.

In grainy security footage submitted by the Crown on Monday, Richard Bain is seen climbing out of his black SUV and walking towards the back of the Metropolis club moments before the fatal shooting.

Bain is accused of first-degree murder in the death of lighting technician Denis Blanchette, who was shot and killed outside the Parti Québécois election-night rally on Sept. 4, 2012.

The black-and-white surveillance video, which came from a security camera for the apartment buildings behind the Metropolis, captured a shot of the black SUV in a no-parking zone near Boisbriand Street.

Bain eventually gets out of the vehicle and leaves the parking lot. He is carrying something, and he stops for a moment in the parking lot on his way towards the club.

Trees obscure the view, but as the camera follows Bain to the back entrance of the club, people appear to be running.

Later, there's a big flash of light near the back steps of the club.

In earlier testimony, eyewitnesses said they saw Bain throw a road flare on the back steps of the club, not far from where then-PQ leader Pauline Marois was delivering her victory speech.

'I know what I did was wrong'

Earlier Monday, the court heard testimony from a retired nurse who testified that she treated Bain.

Donna Palmer told the jury that she treated Bain at the Royal Victoria Hospital two days after his arrest, on Sept. 6, 2012.

She testified that Bain told her he had a confession to make, and he said, "I know what I did was wrong."

Palmer also recalled that Bain told her he was a born-again Christian.

Bain was calm and alert, but "talking a lot, nonstop," she told the jury.

Palmer said Bain was given oxygen for his chest pain, and his vital signs were checked. 

The Crown in the Richard Bain trial presented this still image extracted from surveillance video, captured the afternoon of the shooting inside the front entrance of the former Royal Victoria Hospital. (Royal Victoria Hospital security footage)

Surveillance footage follows SUV's movements

The court has also seen a compilation of other surveillance footage, presented by the Crown to trace Bain's movements leading up to the shooting on the night of Sept. 4, 2012.

Footage from earlier that day followed the movements of a black SUV from the former Royal Victoria Hospital parking lot.

The jury was shown a still image taken from inside the hospital's front entrance, where Bain appears to be standing near a ticket validation machine.

Earlier in the trial, the Crown presented evidence including a parking receipt from the MUHC's Royal Victoria Hospital found inside Bain's SUV, as well as a bag of prescription medication from a pharmacy.

Later, surveillance video tracks the SUV to downtown Montreal and, finally, to a parking lot on de Boisbriand Street behind the Metropolis club. 

Bain's trial, which began three weeks ago, is expected to continue until the end of July.

The accused also faces three counts of attempted murder, charges of arson and possession of an incendiary device.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaela Bernstien

Journalist

Jaela Bernstien is a Montreal-based journalist who covers climate change and the environment for CBC's online, radio and TV news programs. With over a decade of experience, her work has won several awards including a 2023 National RTDNA award, a 2023 Gold Digital Publishing Award, and a 2018 CAJ award for labour reporting. You can reach her at jaela.bernstien@cbc.ca