Witness tells court police saw ‘low’ threat level for 2012 Quebec election shooting

MONTREAL — Police decided there was a small level of threat exterior the Montreal venue on election evening in 2012 exactly where a gunman shot and killed a lighting technician, according to a retired provincial police officer who aided oversee security.

MONTREAL — Police determined there was a reduced degree of risk outdoors the Montreal venue on election night in 2012 where a gunman shot and killed a lighting technician, according to a retired provincial police officer who helped oversee protection.

Daniel Rondeau testified on Friday at a civil trial involving four stagehands who ended up present the night time of the shooting and who are suing the Metropolis of Montreal and Quebec’s lawyer basic for a total of additional than $600,000. 

On election night time, Sept. 4, 2012, Rondeau was a provincial police lieutenant overseeing stability for political leaders and their spouses and co-ordinating operations from a command centre. 

Rondeau told the demo there was no credible risk to the location and so no officers were being stationed exterior the live performance hall. No officer was with then-leading-designate Pauline Marois’s car or truck possibly, he reported.

“The evaluation of the amount of danger was minimal,” Rondeau testified.

The plaintiffs allege the law enforcement didn’t do sufficient to assess the dangers involved with the function and that there have been no police stationed outside the house the back door of the downtown location or at other vital areas. They say they endured article-traumatic worry and other psychological injury due to the fact of the capturing.

Richard Henry Bain was convicted in 2016 on a person count of 2nd-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder for the taking pictures outside the Metropolis as Marois delivered a victory speech within. 

Lights technician Denis Blanchette was shot to demise in the attack, and a second technician, David Courage, was hurt just after currently being struck by the exact same bullet that killed his colleague. The four stagehands who are suing are colleagues of the two guys.

Rondeau said he spoke to Frédéric Desgagnés, a sergeant in charge of security for Marois, and mentioned he was satisfied with the program relayed to him around the mobile phone for the political event. Desgagnés is predicted to testify Monday.

He mentioned the selection of bodyguards assigned to Marois within the location was doubled to four and there have been officers stationed at the entrance and back again doorways inside the Metropolis. Protection organizing the function also checked the luggage of people coming into the location.

Rondeau explained the again doorway was still left unlocked to permit experts to appear and go and for some social gathering customers to use it as very well. He mentioned if law enforcement experienced been given credible threats or word of a protest, for case in point, officers could have been moved to stand guard outdoors. No this kind of issues were being recognized, he instructed the courtroom.

The civil demo has read at minimum six threats were being produced towards Marois the working day of the election.

Rondeau mentioned he only figured out of those threats following the attack. He reported all were investigated, but none have been linked particularly to Bain. He briefed Marois and her household right after the assault.

“It was an undetectable menace,” Rondeau explained of Bain’s assault. “It was unpredictable.”

This report by The Canadian Push was first revealed April 8, 2022.

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press