Richard Henry Bain's lawyer asks for extension on trial
The lawyer for Richard Henry Bain is asking the court for another delay as he aims to prepare a possible not-criminally-responsible defence.
Bain is accused of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the election night shooting at a Parti Québécois election victory rally in Montreal in 2012.
Bain's trial was supposed to begin in September.
But his lawyer, Alan Guttman, said he only received a 78-page psychiatric evaluation last month. He said there are elements in the report with which he does not agree.
Guttman said he needs a new report to prepare a defence of not criminally responsible for Bain, but he that it's difficult in the summer to contact people. He said others cannot prepare the report for various personal and professional reasons.
Guttman said he is trying to find someone to prepare a report that would take into account toxicological evidence.
Guttman said Bain was taking an antidepressant known to have major side effects, and questioned whether it played a role in his alleged actions the night of the shooting.
The Crown prosecutor in the case objected to the request for a delay saying the case has dragged on long enough since the 2012 shooting.
Justice Guy Cournoyer said that if he did not grant the delay a potential guilty verdict might end up overturned before the Court of Appeal in a couple of years.
If Cournoyer grants the delay, jury selection would begin on May 24, 2016, with the trial beginning a week later.
