Man charged in 2012 Quebec election night shooting changes lawyers

MONTREAL – The man charged in Quebec’s 2012 election night shooting has changed lawyers.

Richard Henry Bain told a Montreal courtroom this afternoon his new lawyer will be Marcel Guerin.

He will replace Jean-Marc Tremblay, who helped him win the right to get the province to front his legal fees.

Bain is charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder after an attack at a Montreal club in September 2012 as Pauline Marois celebrated the election victory of her Parti Quebecois.

Lawyers were to have returned to court today to update negotiations between Bain and the Quebec government over a state-funded lawyer and how the accused would repay the province.

Instead, the judge allowed Tremblay to withdraw from the case.

Guerin told the court an agreement on the payment issue drawn up by the government was in French instead of English, requiring a further delay.

The matter returns before Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer on May 30.

Bain is also facing several weapons charges as well as some relating to arson in the same incident.

The judge has expressed hope that funding can be secured for Bain’s lawyer, which the court believes is necessary for his proper defence.

A trial isn’t expected until early 2015.