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.

"Itwas a tickingbomb," said psychiatrist Dr.Marie-FrdriqueAllard.

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Bain is accused of first-degree murder in the death ofDenis Blanchette. Thelighting technician was shot and killedoutsideMontreal's Metropolis concert hall just before midnight on Sept. 4, 2012, while the Parti Qubcoiscelebrated its election win inside.

The defence team is using the not criminally responsible defence, arguing thatBainwas 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 RichardBainsays he has no memory of election-night shooting

Allardtoldthe jury that while she does not thinkBain'sactions were the result of his intoxication,she does think he was psychotic and delusional.

• Backgrounder: Not criminally responsible

'Avery explosive cocktail'

The court has heard that in the months before the shooting,Bainhad been going back and forth betweendifferent antidepressantsagainst 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 stessorcould have triggered a psychotic episode.

In earlier testimony, the courtheard that Bain was upset on the day of the shootingbecause he'd seen his sister-in-law suffering in pain at Montreal'sRoyal Victoria Hospital.

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