Even though Denis Blanchette was assassinated on the night of Pauline Marois’ election in 2012, the Sûreté du Québec’s security plan “is going to be the same” if a political party celebrates its victory in the elections at Metropolis (now MTELUS) next October, the prime minister’s head of security told the court.
Posted at 12:00 a.m.
“The basic security plan is going to be the same. […] The recipe is the same from 2012 to 2022, ”testified Lieutenant Pierre Bertrand of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) Thursday at the civil lawsuit brought by survivors of the attack. This policeman is in charge of the close protection unit for SQ dignitaries. He thus oversees the protection of the Premier of Quebec and that of the four main party leaders during the election campaign.
Lieutenant Bertrand was testifying Thursday as part of a media request, including The Pressaimed at contesting a request for in camera and non-publication requested by the Attorney General of Quebec to protect numerous elements relating to security measures in 2012.
Four survivors of the attack are suing the Sûreté du Québec and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal for damages suffered as a result of poor security that evening. According to their testimony, no police officer was present behind the Metropolis to block the path of Richard Henry Bain, who killed Denis Blanchette and seriously injured Dave Courage.
Before the judge, Lieutenant Bertrand repeated several times that nothing had changed significantly in terms of the security of personalities between 2012 and 2022.
The same methods are applied. From 2012 to today, the base is the same.
Lieutenant Pierre Bertrand, of the Sûreté du Québec
In his opinion, revealing the methods of his squad would put “the dignitaries in danger”.
When asked about a hypothetical political rally in Metropolis on election night, the lieutenant maintains that the “recipe” would be the same. He nevertheless mentions “improvements to be made […] at the level of relations with partners” in the wake of a report.
According to the lawyer for the four survivors, a closed session on security measures is intended to “hide things from the general public”. “A camera is just feeding people who think the police are doing their job badly,” said M.and Alain Arsenault. Judge Philippe Bélanger will have to decide the question.
“We served as a human shield! »
Ten years later, Gaël Ghiringhelli is not taking off. “We served as a human shield! “, fulminates the ex-stage technician. Haunted by the gaze of his injured colleague and inhabited by rage, the survivor resigned himself to leaving Quebec to return to France. All his dreams came crashing down on September 4, 2012.
“How can I estimate all that I have lost? I lost 10 years of my life… I was forced to leave Quebec, because I have nothing left. I am suffering ! And I’m tired of suffering! I wanted to integrate into Quebec, crown like everyone else! “, vociferates Gaël Ghiringhelli, his voice broken by emotion.
A little before midnight, there are a dozen technicians huddled together on the stairs of the artists’ entrance outside the Metropolis. Suddenly, Gaël Ghiringhelli hears a “big bang”. Dave Courage falls next to him. He drags him inside with a colleague, then dabs up his friend’s profuse bleeding. “Dave is a little delirious. Everyone is screaming, it’s unbearable, ”he says.
“I will never forget that look. A look that asks me, “Am I going to make it, man?” “says Gaël Ghiringhelli, his voice broken. Dave Courage was then seriously injured, hit in the hip by the bullet that had just killed Denis Blanchette.
During the night, an investigator told him not to tell anyone about the events.
PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Gaël Ghiringhelli at the trial of Richard Henry Bain, in November 2016
I perceived that as a threat. Being told “shut your mouth”, it hurts!
Gaël Ghiringhelli, stage technician present on the evening of the Metropolis attack
Gaël Ghiringhelli is inhabited by a permanent fury. A question torments him: how could Richard Henry Bain approach “so easily”?
“If there had been a single uniformed policeman visible! How can this happen on election night? There were more police when Celine Dion and Prince came! “, he gets carried away.
“It’s a blatant safety issue!” “, he hammers. Moreover, if Richard Henry Bain’s weapon had not miraculously jammed, “the 12, we went there too! he exclaims.
The trial continues this Friday at the Montreal courthouse.