MONTREAL — The Crown's expert witness in the Richard Henry Bain first-degree murder trial says the accused did not hold religious or political ideas that were bizarre or psychotic.
Forensic psychiatrist Joel Watts told jurors today the accused's comments about religion and politics to police, doctors, and others after his arrest are no more extreme than anyone else's who is invested in these issues and who has no mental illness.
Bain has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and two arson-related charges in connection with the shooting outside the Metropolis nightclub in Montreal on Sept. 4, 2012.
The defence argues Bain was psychotic the night he allegedly shot and killed a man outside the venue where the Parti Quebecois was celebrating its election victory and should be found not criminally responsible.
The jury has heard that Bain often talked about how Quebec separatists were ruining the province and that Montreal should separate from Quebec and remain in Canada.
His lawyers say he turned to religion after a manic episode around 2009 and suggested it was a sign the accused was losing his grasp of reality.
Watts said Bain's religious views are mainstream for the born-again Christian faith and his partisan political views might be extreme, but are certainly not symptoms of mental illness.
"His (political) ideas are rooted in political fact and history," Watts testified Thursday. "There are lots of people who have misguided political views and who are not psychotic."
