Richard Bain murder trial: Psychiatrists disagree on sanity of accused

The psychiatrists for the prosecution and the defence agree on most things in the Richard Bain murder trial, but there's one key difference at the heart of the accused murderer's defence strategy.

• Richard Bain knew killing was wrong, but was following God's plan, defence psychiatrist says
• CBC's complete coverage: Richard Bain murder trial

The court has heard testimony from defence psychiatrist Dr. Marie-Frédérique Allard that she and Crown psychiatrist Dr. Joel Watts agree that when Bain went to the Parti Québécois election-night victory rally, he was angry with separatists. 

But the difference "at the heart" of their disagreement, Allard said Monday in her fourth day on the stand, is that she believes Bain's anger was the result of a psychotic delusion.

"For me, Mr. Bain acted under psychosis. And the psychosis altered his ability to apply his recognition of right and wrong. For Dr. Watts, he acted in a situation of anger or political anger," Allard said.

Allard was pre-emptively disputing points made by Watts in his report, which has yet to be submitted in court.

The Crown contends Bain was angry that day because he couldn't vote.

Not faking it, defence psychiatrist says

Bain is accused of first-degree murder, and his defence is arguing that he's not criminally responsible because he was suffering from a psychotic delusion the night of the shooting.

Lighting technician Denis Blanchette was shot and killed on Sept. 4, 2012, while standing at the back entrance of the Metropolis concert hall. The same bullet that killed Blanchette also tore through his friend and colleague, Dave Courage, who survived but suffers from chronic pain.

Allard testified that she believes Bain has bipolar disorder and that he thought he was on a mission from God when he went to the PQ victory rally.

Bain has testified he has no memory of the shooting.

Allard said she's convinced he's telling the truth, and she disagrees with Watts's suggestion that Bain is malingering or feigning amnesia to escape responsibility.

She told the court that when she met Bain in 2012 to evaluate his fitness to stand trial, Bain resisted the idea that he had a mental disorder.

At the time, Allard said Bain was more concerned with spreading his vision from God than he was with his own defence.

In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Bain also stands accused of three counts of attempted murder, as well as arson and possession of an incendiary device for lighting a fire at the back entrance of the Metropolis.