Richard Bain asked brother for directions to Metropolis before alleged murder, jury hears

Hours before a man was gunned down outside a 2012election night celebration inMontreal,Richard Bain visited his brother's wife at thehospital and asked for directions to the venue,the court learned on the final day of the Crown's case.

"He asked me where the Metropolis was, and I didn't know," Bain's brother, Robert, said in a police interview that was taped andshown in court on Thursday.

• Richard Bain's friend says 'this is not the man I knew'
• CBC'scomplete coverage of theRichard Bain murder trial

RichardBainis accused of first-degree murder in the shooting death of lighting technician DenisBlanchette, who wasstanding outside the Metropolis concert hallwhile thePartiQubcoiscelebrated its election win inside on Sept. 4, 2012.

The jury in the murder trial in Montreal watched the video testimony fromRobertBain,recorded over a year after the fatal shooting.

In the video, he tellsaprovincial policeofficer that on the day of the attack,his wife was at the Royal Victoria Hospital, and his brother stopped by in the afternoon to visit and have lunch.

He sayshis brother asked how to get to the Metropolis before leaving, but he didn't know.

The officer asksRobert Bain various questions about his relationship with his brother, their history, and how he woulddescribe his general character.

He answers, "normal, like everybody else. He has hisopinions and he'd express them strongly sometimes, like me," but he adds, "he'd never get violent."

'I had no idea it was him'

On electionnight, Robert Bain says,he saw the TV footage of a man in a bathrobebeing led away by police, but he never thought it was his own brother.

"I had no idea it was him at all. None."

He sayshe ended up finding out from friends a couple of days later.

Up until almost theend of the interview,the conversation remainscasual and easy, butRobert Bainchokesback a few tears when the officer askshim if he has anything else to add.

"I'm just, surprised at what he did. I just,never expected it," he says.

"Itstill upsets me. I don't know."

'The English are waking up,' suspect shouts

8 years ago

Duration 7:37

Footage shows a man being led away by police after the Sept. 4, 2012 shooting outside Montreal's Metropolis nightclub.

A 'vision' from 'God of Abraham'

Earlier on Thursday, the court heard a recording of Richard Bain himself, speaking toEnglishMontreal radio station CJAD about a "vision"he had for Montreal.

The jury heard that Bain called CJAD's newsroomfrom jail, several days after the shooting, and told the journalist who answered, Trudie Mason, thathe had a vision from "the God of Abraham" for Montreal to separate and become its own province, where people could live in peace and harmony.

37:10Richard Bain calls CJAD newsroom

Reporter Trudie Mason testified at Bain's trial that she recorded this interview with the defendant when he phoned from jail on Sept. 19, 2012.

'All my friends are francophone'

In the recording played in court on Thursday, Bainidentifieshimself and tells Mason that he's calling from the Rivire-des-Prairiesdetention centre.

One day the person that will judgeme will be my God, the God of Abraham and Lord Jesus Christ.- Richard Bain, in CJAD recording

Mason asksBainif he has a message for the French-speaking community, andBainagrees to speak in French.

"All my friends are francophone," he's heard saying.

"It's just that there are a few who do not respect us, and they are definitely against some of our rights."

He outlineshisplan for Montreal,using hockey metaphors to explain himself.

"If they want to separate from Canada, we will play the same game,Canadiens versus Maple Leafs," he says in French.

"The Canadiens go up against Toronto all the time. The island of Montreal can go up against the militant separatists."

'Are you a crazy person,Mr.Bain?'

During their conversation,Mason tries to get Bain to open up about what happened at the Metropolis that night.

"There are some people who say when you took weapons to the Metropolis and opened fire and set a fire, that was an act of a crazy person. Are you a crazy person, Mr.Bain?" she asks.

"Time will tell, eh?" he answers. "Let's let the justice system do its job."

Bain says he will be judged by God

The conversation lasts 37 minutes, with a few interruptions whenBain goes back to his cell to retrieve documents.

The conversation ends when Mason tells Bain that she's made contact with his thenlawyer, who is asking him to stop speaking to media.

Bain agrees to respect his counsel's advice.

Before he hangs up, Bain adds: "One day the person that will judgeme will be my God, the god of Abraham and Lord Jesus Christ."

Then he says to Mason "God bless you."

Mason responds:"Please call us back any time."

The Crown restedits case on Thursday. The trial will be suspendeduntil July 18, when the defence will call its first witness.