Judge to accused PQ election shooter: You have three weeks to decide on a lawyer

MONTREAL – The accused Quebec election-night shooter has been given three weeks to decide if he wants to hire a lawyer or represent himself.

Richard Henry Bain was given that deadline today by Quebec court Judge Jean-Paul Braun, who is presiding over the preliminary stage of the murder case.

The accused has lost his legal-aid lawyer because he did not qualify financially.

At his court appearances, Bain has frequently delivered political diatribes — against the independence of Quebec, and in favour of the separation of Montreal.

He has also complained about documents in his case not having been translated into English, which has caused several delays.

Bain is accused of killing a stage technician in back of the hall where Premier Pauline Marois was delivering her Parti Quebecois victory speech on election night, last Sept. 4.

The premier has said she believes she was the intended target of a political assassination.