A look at some key dates in Richard Henry Bain case

Aug 23, 2016 | 3:15 PM

MONTREAL — A look at some key dates in the case of Quebec election-night shooter Richard Henry Bain, who was convicted Tuesday on one charge of second-degree murder and three of attempted murder:

Sept. 4, 2012: Near midnight, Richard Henry Bain launches assault on Montreal nightclub hosting Parti Quebecois election-night rally. Lighting technician Denis Blanchette is killed and colleague Dave Courage seriously injured by single bullet before rifle jams. Bain scrambles and pulls handgun on provincial police officer before being tackled and arrested. Dressed in balaclava and blue bathrobe, yells in French, “The English Are Waking Up” as police lead him away. Attack creates chaos inside as premier-designate Pauline Marois is whisked away while on live TV.

Sept. 5: Hours after the shooting, Bain unable to answer police officer’s questions. Says he’s ill and is sent to Royal Victoria Hospital for treatment.

Sept. 6: More defiant Bain refuses to answer investigator’s questions during second interrogation.

Sept. 10: Funeral held for Blanchette.

Sept. 18: First meeting with psychiatrist Dr. Marie-Frederique Allard.

Sept. 19: Calls radio station CJAD and talks for 37 minutes about his vision to separate Montreal from Quebec.

Nov. 9: Has second meeting with Allard, where he writes out responses to questions about night of the shooting. Is scared the room is bugged. Writes: “The plan was to kill as many separatists as I could, the head, the new MPs, their leaders, their backbone.” Contradicts what he told police officer night of the shooting, when he said he was simply trying to scare people. Tells Allard in note that “I was aiming to kill, I was not aiming to shoot over their heads.” Also says his intent was to bring down Marois: “If Madame Marois could be seen, I would have killed her.” Also says he intended to hatch plan not unlike that of Bluebird Cafe fire, in which 37 people died in one of worst arson cases in Canadian history.

Dec. 7: Sent for psychiatric evaluation after ranting in court about how he was sent on mission by Jesus Christ to rid Quebec of “separatist problem.”

Jan. 28, 2013: Deemed fit to stand trial.

Nov. 28, 2014: After numerous lawyers and false starts, attempts to secure bail, claiming he can’t properly build defence behind bars. Mentions alleged drug overdose and says he doesn’t remember events from 2012. 

Dec. 19: Denied bail.

Feb. 20, 2015: Hires veteran Montreal attorney Alan Guttman to defend him at murder trial. Trial delayed to 2016.

June 9, 2016: First-degree murder trial begins before 14 jurors — eight women and six men — at Montreal courthouse.

June 30: Crown completes case. Jury given two-week break.

July 18: Case resumes with Guttman laying out not criminally responsible defence, with Bain taking stand.

Aug. 9: Evidence complete. In total, jurors hear from 48 Crown and eight defence witnesses over 34 days of testimony.

Aug. 11-12: Final arguments held over two days as defence and Crown make final pitches to jury. Quebec Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer delivers final instructions to jurors and tells them they won’t have to rule on two arson-related charges Bain faces. 

Aug. 13: Jurors begin deliberating, tasked with determining whether Bain was not criminally responsible.

Aug. 23: Found guilty on Day 11 of jury deliberations of one charge of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.

 

The Canadian Press