MONTREAL — A psychiatrist who met with alleged murderer Richard Henry Bain nearly two weeks after his arrest in 2012 says it's clear to her he was in a manic state brought on by bipolar disorder.
Marie-Frederique Allard is testifying for the defence at Bain's first-degree murder trial.
Bain has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, three counts of attempted murder and two arson-related charges in connection with a shooting on Sept. 4, 2012, the night the Parti Quebecois won the provincial election.
The Crown has argued the crime was premeditated and politically motivated, while the defence has countered Bain should be held not criminally responsible by way of mental disorder.
Allard, a forensic psychiatrist, says Bain's then-lawyer asked her to meet with the accused on Sept. 18, 2012, to assess his level of criminal responsibility.
She says it was clear following a three-hour session that Bain was psychotic and exhibiting symptoms of mania.
Allard testified it was impossible to say how long Bain had been in that state but that it could have been many weeks or many months.
"I didn't know when the episode started, but I knew on the 18th, Mr. Bain was experiencing psychosis and this psychosis was related to bipolar disorder," she told the trial Wednesday.
