Richard Bain, Denis Lortie are mirror cases, lawyer says in run-up to sentencing

CBC News has learned that Richard Bain's lawyer will be relying heavily on the case of Denis Lortie to argue his client should receive the minimum sentence of 10 years in prison before he can apply for parole.

A jury found Richard Bain guilty of second-degree murder last month for the death of lighting technician Denis Blanchette in the 2012 election-night shooting at the Parti Qubcois victory rally. Bain was also found guilty of three counts of attempted murder.

• Richard Bain guilty of 2nd-degree murder in 2012 Quebec election-night shooting

This Friday, the Crown and the defence lawyer will make their cases for Bain's sentence.

Depending on what the judge decides, he could have to wait between 10 and 25 years before he can apply for parole.

Defence lawyer Alan Guttman, who'll be arguing for the minimum, says he has a strong argument in his back pocket.

Lortie was found guilty of murdering three people, and received the minimum sentence.

Guttman told CBC News that it's a "mirror case" compared to his client's.

"I don't see the difference between Bain and Lortie," Guttman told CBC. "I think Lortie was much worse."

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Lortie was originally convicted of first-degree murder, but later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of second-degree murder after a new trial was ordered due to legal errors.

He received the minimum of 10 years in prison before he could apply for parole, and he was released on parole in 1996.

Guttman says both shootings had political aspects, and both men had a history of mental health issues.

Lortie fatally shot three government employees and wounded thirteen during the National Assembly attack, on May 8, 1984.

He shouted in French "where are the MNAs? I want to kill them."

In Bain's case, 28 years later, the Parti Qubcois was also the intended target. In a handwritten note, Bain said that "the plan was to kill as many separatists as I could."

Guttman will argue if the National Assembly shooter received the minimum, his client should get the same.

We're not dealing with a criminal. We're dealing with a very sick man that snapped,- Defence lawyer AlanGuttman

He'll also be arguing that Bainhad no history of violence and was a law-abiding citizen up until the deadly shooting.

"We're not dealing with a criminal. We're dealing with a very sick man that snapped," he said.

If the judge agrees and hands down the minimum sentence, Bain could be out on parole in six yearsbecause he's already been incarcerated for four years. But that will be up to the parole board to decide.

CBC reached out to the prosecutor to ask what he plans to argue on Friday, but he said he would not discuss that ahead of the hearing.

After the sentencing arguments have been completed, the judge could take several weeks to make his decision.