Richard Bain knew killing was wrong, but was following God's plan, defence psychiatrist says

On the night of the shooting, Richard Bain understood that killingwas wrong, but that didn't stop him because he believed he was carrying out a mission for God, a psychiatrist for the defence told the court.

"Even if he knew that killing is wrong. For him, this notion did not apply, because God was asking him to do something," saidpsychiatristDr.Marie-FrdriqueAllard, who was called to testify byBain'sdefence.

Allardbelieves that"it is more likely than not" thatBain was psychoticthe night of thedeadly shootingand that he thought he had been sent toprotect the anglophones and kill the separatists.

The psychiatrist told the juryit's her opinion that Bainwas suffering from adelusion.

• CBC'scomplete coverage: RichardBainmurder trial
• Richard Bain was 'clearly psychotic' 2 weeks after shooting
• Accused RichardBainsays he has no memory of election-night shooting

Bainis accused of first-degree murder in the Sept. 4, 2012election-night shooting that left DenisBlanchettedead and another man, Dave Courage, seriously injured. They were shot outside Montreal's Metropolis nightclub around midnight,while the Parti Qubcois celebrated its election victory inside.

The defence is arguing thatBainis not criminally responsible for the shooting because of a mental disorder.

The prosecution contendsthe shooting was premeditated and motivated by the fact thatBaincould not vote that day.

• Backgrounder: Not criminally responsible

'Kill as many separatists as I could'

Allard said both of the times that she saw Bain not long after his arrestin 2012, he was clearly in a psychotic state.

During one session onNov. 9, 2012, Bain was afraid of being recorded, so he refused to answer Allard's questions out loud, and instead wrote down his responses.

Allardread from her report in court, repeating what Bain told her:"The plan was to kill as many separatists as I could."

"If inside, if Madame [Pauline] Marois could be seen, I could've killed her," Bain told Allard during their meeting.

Allard told the juryBain said his mission was cut short because, "Jesus Christ stopped it."

Based on testimony from colleagues, friends and family, Allard said it's evident thatBainalways a law-abiding person in the past, with no violent history.

She told the juryBaintold her that he took medication hours before the shootingto give him the"guts" to carry out his mission.

Allardsaid she also believesit's likely thatBainsuffers from bipolar disorder.

• "Grace of god, thegun jammed," Bain told police

Possible overdose of medication

Earlier in the trial, Bain told the court he took a handful of anti-depressantsaround 7 p.m., roughly five hours before the shooting.

The following morning, a police interrogation video shows a sleepyBain in custodytelling police he's confusedand doesn't understand why he's there.

Based on whatshe observed in thatvideo, Allardsaid Bain"looks like someone who was intoxicated, or who is coming down from some substance."

She said she does not believe he was faking the symptoms, and cited a toxicological analysis ofBain's bloodthe day after the shooting.

Richard Bain's first interrogation with police

8 years ago

Duration 1:23

A police detective asks Richard Bain if he understands what it means to be charged with murder and attempted murder.

The court heard that the reportmentions the presence oftwo antidepressants: EffexorandTrazodone.

WhileAllardsaid she believes Bainwas showing signs of an overdose, she did not link his actions the night of the shooting to the medication he had taken.

"I don'tthink the thing he did was the result of intoxication," Allard testified.

In earlier testimony, Bain told the court he believed he took an anti-depressant calledCymbaltathe night of the shooting, but he later added that it could haveaccidentally taken Effexor instead.

Allardis expected to continue her testimonyfor a third day on Friday.