Richard Bain 'was a ticking bomb,' defence psychiatrist says

In the months leading up to the 2012 election-night shooting, Richard Bain was at a high risk of experiencing a psychotic episode, according to the defence team's psychiatrist. 

"It was a ticking bomb," said psychiatrist Dr. Marie-Frédérique Allard.

• CBC's complete coverage: Richard Bain murder trial
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Bain is accused of first-degree murder in the death of Denis Blanchette. The lighting technician was shot and killed outside Montreal's Metropolis concert hall just before midnight on Sept. 4, 2012, while the Parti Québécois celebrated its election win inside. 

The defence team is using the not criminally responsible defence, arguing that Bain was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offence.

Bain maintains that he has no memory of the events of that night, and testified that he took a handful of anti-depressants hours before the shooting.

• Accused Richard Bain says he has no memory of election-night shooting

Allard told the jury that while she does not think Bain's actions were the result of his intoxication, she does think he was psychotic and delusional.

• Backgrounder: Not criminally responsible

'A very explosive cocktail'

The court has heard that in the months before the shooting, Bain had been going back and forth between different antidepressants — against medical advice.

Allard told told the jury that can be very dangerous.

 "The interplay of medications can be a very explosive cocktail," she said. 

Allard said that Bain was in a very vulnerable state, and that any sort of stessor could have triggered a psychotic episode.

In earlier testimony, the court heard that Bain was upset on the day of the shooting because he'd seen his sister-in-law suffering in pain at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital.

The prosecution contends that Bain was upset that day because he wasn't able to cast his vote, and that the deadly shooting was premeditated and politically-motivated.