MONTREAL -- The man charged in Quebec's deadly election-night shooting in 2012 was upset that day after being told he couldn't vote because of an address problem, the Crown said Thursday.
Prosecutor Dennis Galiatsatos told the jury on the first day of Richard Henry Bain's murder trial the accused killed lighting technician Denis Blanchette and that the bullet then struck a stagehand, shattering his pelvis.
Besides the first-degree murder charge, Bain faces three charges of attempted murder and two fire-related counts. He has pleaded not guilty to all six.
He is accused of walking toward the backdoor staircase of a downtown Montreal club on the night of Sept. 4, 2012, and firing at Blanchette as Parti Quebecois supporters celebrated their election victory inside.
In his opening statements, Galiatsatos said he would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bain is responsible for Blanchette's death and is also guilty on the five other charges.
The prosecutor said Bain got out of his black GMC Yukon, which was parked in a lot outside the Metropolis, put on a ski mask and a bathrobe, walked up to the back stairs and fired one shot before his gun jammed.
As Bain was being arrested by police officers, he yelled "the English are waking up," Galiatsatos told the jury of eight women and six men.
He also told them Bain was carrying a modified semi-automatic rifle as well as a pistol and had an extra magazine clip on him as well as fuel and flares.
The Crown intends to call up to 50 witnesses, including police officers, civilians and experts.
One of the most eagerly awaited witnesses will be stagehand David Courage, whose hip was shattered by the bullet that killed Blanchette.
In outlining his case, Galiatsatos told jurors they will hear how Bain was upset earlier on election day after being informed he couldn't vote because of an address problem.
Bain also spoke with family members the day of the shooting, Galiatsatos said, and allegedly asked them "for the address of the Metropolis."
Galiatsatos added that surveillance footage will show Bain circulating in his vehicle around the Metropolis earlier that day.
Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer took roughly one hour to read instructions to the jurors. Although all 14 will hear the evidence, only 12 will be selected to decide Bain's fate.
The trial, which is expected to last between six and eight weeks, had been pushed back numerous times, most recently in May because Bain had to undergo surgery.
The accused sat in the witness box Thursday wearing a cream-coloured neck brace.
Later in the day, provincial police investigator Guillaume Vezeau described many of the photos taken of the crime scene as well as images of 3-D recreations of the area outside the Metropolis.
