Defence in Quebec election night shooting trial tries to discredit Crown expert

MONTREAL — The defence team for accused election night shooter Richard Henry Bain tried on Friday to discredit the psychiatric evaluation produced by the Crown’s expert witness at his first-degree murder trial.

Defence lawyer Alan Guttman attempted to establish that Bain suffered a psychotic episode tied to the anti-depressant drug, Cymbalta, in 2009, and never fully recovered, leading to the accused shooting a man dead outside the Parti Quebecois election victory rally on Sept. 4, 2012.

Bain told the jury he started taking the drug again in 2012, triggering another psychotic episode.

Guttman pressed Crown forensic psychiatrist Joel Watts and eventually got him to admit that Bain had, in fact, shown symptoms of psychosis in the past, contrary to what he wrote in his report.

“There was never any evidence Bain suffered a psychotic episode — except for that one time,” Watts said, referring to Bain’s reaction to Cymbalta in 2009.

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Guttman responded: “Except for that one time — we’ll see about that.”

Bain, 65, has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and two arson-related charges in connection with the shooting on Sept. 4, 2012.

The defence is arguing Bain is not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder, while the Crown says the accused acted out of anger over the result of the 2012 election won by the separatist PQ.

Defence psychiatrist, Marie-Frederique Allard, had testified that Bain showed symptoms of mania and psychosis in 2009, which Watts was forced to acknowledge on Friday.

The accused stockpiled $75,000 worth of food, medicine and other supplies out of an delusional fear of the H1N1 flu virus.

Bain was taken off the drug but Guttman says his client’s problems resurfaced in May 2012, when the accused began taking Cymbalta again, without his doctor’s knowledge.

The defence claims Bain began showing symptoms once more in 2012, including erratic behaviour and irrational religious and political beliefs.

Guttman asked Watts what he thought of Bain spending $400 on sex workers and champagne a few nights before the shooting.

Watts said Bain’s actions don’t necessarily mean he was suffering another manic episode.

Bain showed signed of clear and organized behaviour on the night of the shooting, Watts said, such as wearing a mask to hide his identity and removing the license plate form his vehicle parked behind the venue.

Watts is back on the stand on Monday.

Giuseppe Valiante, The Canadian Press