Quebec’s 2012 election-night shooting ‘unpredictable,’ police witnesses testify

The provincial police officer charged with the non-public safety of then-premier-designate Pauline Marois throughout Quebec’s 2012 deadly election taking pictures testified on Monday that he’s glad together with his group’s work that day.

Frédéric Desgagnés, a sergeant with the provincial police unit that oversees safety of dignitaries, instructed the court docket his group did a superb job of defending Marois. The unit adopted protocol, he mentioned, including that the specter of the gunman was unforeseeable.

“It had gone undetected; it was an unpredictable and irrational occasion,” Desgagnés instructed the court docket.

Desgagnés testified on the civil trial of 4 stagehands who have been current the evening of the taking pictures and who’re suing the Metropolis of Montreal and Quebec’s legal professional common for a complete of greater than $600,000.

Richard Henry Bain was convicted in 2016 on one depend of second-degree homicide and three counts of tried homicide for the taking pictures and arson outdoors the Metropolis live performance corridor as Marois delivered a victory speech contained in the downtown Montreal venue.

Lighting technician Denis Blanchette was shot to dying within the assault, and a second technician, David Braveness, was injured after being struck by the identical bullet that killed his colleague. Braveness was current on the courthouse Monday in assist of his 4 colleagues.

The plaintiffs allege the police didn’t do sufficient to judge the dangers related to the occasion and that there have been no police stationed outdoors the again door of the venue or at different key areas. They are saying they suffered post-traumatic stress and different psychological harm as a result of taking pictures.

Desgagnés testified that he authorised the safety plan and that he was one of many officers who moved Marois off the stage when he heard an explosion — attributable to Bain launching an incendiary machine. Desgagnés mentioned he first mistakenly thought the noise got here from a confetti cannon.

He mentioned bodyguards have been stationed with Marois and her household, including that police stood guard contained in the live performance venue. Desgagnés mentioned an agent was positioned on the again door of the live performance corridor however no officer was outdoors, the place Bain attacked.

Desgagnés mentioned his group’s job was to guard Marois and her household, including that the outside perimeter fell to the Montreal police.

The court docket has heard that Marois confronted six threats the day of the election and that none have been traced again to Bain.

Desgagnés mentioned he solely discovered of the six threats made towards Marois after the taking pictures.

“If there was an imminent hazard, I might have been instructed,” he mentioned. “But when they’re unfounded or not a right away menace, I might not learn.”

Dominique Langelier, a provincial police officer who was answerable for intelligence on the evening of the taking pictures, testified that it wasn’t frequent observe to protect the rear of a constructing.

Langelier instructed the court docket Monday that Desgagnés’ group was tasked with watching Marois whereas his unit was answerable for supervising the gang.

“Zero danger doesn’t exist,” Langelier mentioned. “Mr. Bain acted as a lone wolf, deliberate his act, didn’t inform anybody. It was unpredictable for us.”