Richard Bain murder trial: Police found stockpile of guns, ammo at rustic cabin

The day after a man was shot and killed outside the Parti Qubcois electionparty, provincial police drove to Richard Bain'sremotefishing lodge roughly two hours northwest of Montreal, a Quebec Superior Court has heard.

After travelling roughly one kilometre up a dirtroad in La Conception, Que., police found anoff-the-gridcabin overlooking a private lake.

On the property police found a total of 12 guns, more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, and a crossbow.

Some of the firearms were stashed inside a cubby in the main cabin's kitchen.Investigators found them in a hidden hidden compartment in the ceiling,behind apanel.

SretduQubecSgt.SylvainBenjamin, who oversaw the search of the property, led the jury throughphotos of their other discoveries.

• VIDEO:RichardBainmurder trial hears Metropolis head of security helped tackle gunman
• Fellow stagehand got inked to remember shooting victim DenisBlanchette

Guns and ammunition scattered everywhere

The court heard that police entered the main cabin through an unlocked patio door. Leaning against the wall in acorner,behind some coats and acurtain, investigators found a 12-gauge shotgun aFabarm.

As they continued to comb through the home and the rest of the property, investigators found ammunition scattered aroundinboxes andcrates,or lying out in the open on furniture.

A JeanCoutubag sitting on top of the fridge, for instance, was filled withcartridges.

In the semi-basement, police also found ammunition inside stacks of military-style wooden crates.

Police seized a total of 12firearms, including aSmith & Wesson revolver, aRemingtonMagnum with a scopeand threeCZ tactical rifles.

Cabin had makeshift toilet, DIY shower

The rustic cabinwas powered using a generator and police said when they flicked on the power, the TV was tuned to the French news channel LCN.

Benjamin also showed a pictureofBain'sbathroom,pointing out thehomemade toilet:achair with a hole in it, fitted with a bucket to catch waste. Benjamin also highlighted how theshowerwas made, by attaching a hose to aplastic crate.

In the living area, a pile ofcatfoodwas found spilled on the floor, next to three full dishes. But the investigator told the jury they only saw one cat while they were there.

Bainis accused of murdering lighting technician DenisBlanchette, who was outside Montreal's Metropolis nightclub the night of the PQ victory party.

In addition to first-degree murder,Bainalsofaces three countsofattempted murder, as well as charges ofarson and possession of an incendiary device.

'A fishing expedition?'

During his cross-examination, defence lawyer Alan Guttman questionedBenjamin about the general warrant used to search the property.

Guttman asked what police were looking for, andBenjamin explained that police didn't know what they were going to find.

"You go and look," he said.

Guttmanpressed on, "So it's a fishing expedition?"

"It's an investigation," Benjaminanswered.

In his opening argument, the prosecution said it intends to prove the shooting the night of Sept. 4, 2012was politically motivated.

The defence challenged that idea with a question to the witness on Wednesday.

"With all these detailed searches that you conducted, did you find any relevant documents on politics?On the Parti Qubcois?On the Liberalparty?Anything to implicate Mr. Bain's involvement in politics?"

Benjamin answered that they did not.

The trial began on June 9 and is expectedto take until the end of July.

• Day 9:'His gun jammed. He could've shot us all,' jury hears
• Day 8: Guns in black SUV were loaded, ready to fire
• Day 7:Metropolis head of security says he helped tackle gunman
• Day 6:RichardBainmurder trial: 'Grace of God, the gun jammed'
• Day 5:Video showssuspect yelling 'the English are waking up!'
• Day 4: 'Thank you, smile away,' surviving victim Dave Couragesays to accused RichardBain
• Day 3: 'I heard a scream, and I saw the blood': Stagehand tells jury he thought it was a joke
• Day 2:Bainupset he couldn't vote on day of PQ election night shooting, court hears
• Day 1:'The English are waking up': Prosecution aims to prove political motive inBaintrial