No verdict in Quebec election shooting trial after eight days of deliberations

MONTREAL – Jurors at Richard Henry Bain’s first-degree murder trial will deliberate for a ninth day after failing to reach a verdict Saturday.

Day 8 went by with no word from the seven women and five men who are deciding the fate of Quebec’s alleged election-night shooter.

Bain, 65, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of stagehand Denis Blanchette, as well as three counts of attempted murder.

The charges are connected with events outside the Metropolis nightclub in September 2012 as then-premier designate Pauline Marois was inside celebrating the Parti Quebecois’ election win.

Bain’s lawyer has argued he was mentally ill at the time and should be found not criminally responsible.

But the Crown has argued Bain was of sound mind and that the shooting was premeditated and triggered by his anger over the PQ election victory.

On Friday, Quebec Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer said the length of the jury’s deliberations isn’t unusual given the complex nature of the case.