What we know so far about Quebec's deadly election-night shooting
Warning: This article includes explicit language
Accused murderer Richard Bain has been painted by the Crown as a divinely-inspired, gun-loving man who went to Montreal's Metropolis nightclub to stop premier-designate Pauline Marois from celebrating her victory four years ago.
After spending 15 days leading the jury through the events leading up to the deadly shooting at the Metropolis on Sept. 4, 2012, its chaotic aftermath, and the police investigation that followed, Crown prosecutor Dennis Galiatsatos has now wrapped up his case in the Quebec election-night murder trial.
Bain is accused of first-degree murder in the death of lighting technician Denis Blanchette as well as three counts of attempted murder, arson charges and possession of an incendiary device. He has pleaded not guilty and the defence has yet to present its case.
Blanchette was gunned down outside the Metropolis as the Parti Québécois celebrated its newly-elected minority government inside.
Here are eight key things the jury learned from the Crown's case:
1. Richard Bain: 'Marois is f--king shit'
The Crown set out to prove that the murder of Denis Blanchette was politically-motivated, and key testimony supporting its case came from a man from La Conception, Que.
Steve Pilon told the court he was having an evening beer on a local terrasse four days before the shooting, when he saw Bain approach, dressed unusually in a kilt.
The accused joined the group on the patio, and the conversation eventually turned to politics, Pilon testified.
He said Bain suggested he should vote for the Coalition Avenir Québec, but Pilon said the election was about the youth, and that most would be supporting Pauline Marois and the Parti Québécois.
Pilon repeated Bain's answer for the court: "Mr. Bain said that Marois is, excuse the language ... that she's 'f---king shit.'"
2. Bain was unhappy he couldn't vote
The Crown also called a former Quebec election employee to testify about a conversation she had the day of the shooting.
Caroline Huot told the jury she spoke with a man over the phone who was identified as Richard Bain.
She testified that she got a call from a riding office in La Conception, Que., asking if she could check to see if Bain was on the voter's list.
Huot said when she told Bain he was listed in Repentigny, not La Conception, that he was unhappy and spoke to her in an "arrogant tone," saying that he was from a family of great hunters.
3. Bain visited sick sister-in-law before shooting
Evidence presented by the Crown shows that Bain was acting calm and normal the afternoon before the shooting.
The jury heard that on Sept. 4, 2012, Bain stopped by Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital, where his sister-in-law was recovering from an operation.
Bain's brother, Robert, told a police officer that they had lunch together at the hospital cafeteria.
Richard Bain asked Robert for directions to Metropolis before the shooting, the jury heard.
"He asked me where the Metropolis was, and I didn't know," Robert Bain said in a recording of the police interview shown in court.
4. Bald man seen driving by Metropolis
The jury heard that later that day, a man matching Bain's description was spotted driving by the Metropolis three times.
Audio-visual technician Patrick Magnan was working outside the Metropolis concert venue, setting up a giant screen for the PQ's election-night rally.
He told the jury that he recalled seeing a bald man wearing glasses drive by three times in the span of an hour that afternoon.
He said he likes suburban-style vehicles, and so the black Yukon caught his eye.
In later testimony from a police officer, the jury heard that after Bain was handcuffed he pointed to a black Yukon Denali SUV in the parking lot and said, "It's my car, the Denali."
5. He 'just wanted to shoot over their heads'
In the chaos that followed the deadly shooting behind the Metropolis, the jury heard how Bain was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by police.
Arresting police officer Const. Mathieu Brassard told the jury what Bain said to him after being arrested.
He said the accused told him, "I just wanted to shoot over their heads, but I got one. It jammed."
Brassard told the jury that he asked Bain why he did it. Though he couldn't understand the first part of the answer, he said it ended with "against the bitch."
6. A 'vision' from 'God of Abraham'
More evidence supporting the Crown's political-motive theory came from a conversation Bain had with a journalist.
Fast-forward to two weeks after the fatal shooting, when Bain phoned English Montreal radio station CJAD from jail.
The jury heard that Bain called CJAD's newsroom on Sept. 19, 2012, and told journalist Trudie Mason that he had a vision from "the God of Abraham" for Montreal to separate from Quebec and become its own province.
"The vision that I have that there will be harmony amongst the English-speaking people, and the allophones and the francophones on the Island of Montreal. And that there will be peace and harmony on this Island of Montreal," Bain says in a audio recording of the call.
He outlined his plan, using hockey metaphors to explain himself.
"If they want to separate from Canada, we will play the same game, Canadiens versus Maple Leafs ... The Canadiens go up against Toronto all the time. The Island of Montreal can go up against the militant separatists."
7. Gun could have fired 30 rounds in under 1 minute
Two guns were seized from Bain after police tackled him to the ground — a CZ-75 handgun and a CZ-858 semi-automatic.
Ballistics expert Gilbert Desjardins told the jury the rifle was fitted with a magazine that had been illegally modified so that 30 rounds could fit inside.
The legal limit in Canada for that kind of gun is five.
Desjardins said the gun could have fired all 30 rounds in less than a minute.
When the rifle was seized by police, it was jammed with one bullet stuck halfway into the chamber.
8. Bain's SUV and cabin were stocked with weapons
The Crown has meticulously listed the guns, knives and ammunition found on the accused, in his SUV and at his residence.
Altogether, 15 firearms were seized from Bain, his vehicle and his home in La Conception, Que.
In addition to the two guns found on Bain when he was arrested, police also found two semi-automatic rifles and another handgun in the SUV, along with several loaded magazines.
The vehicle also had a machete and a bullet-proof vest inside.
At Bain's cabin and property in La Conception, Que., police found several more semi-automatic rifles, a Smith & Wesson revolver and a shotgun, as well as more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition and a crossbow.
Bain had permits for all of the guns he owned and none of the guns were prohibited.
The trial resumes on July 18, when the defence will call its first witness.
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