Crown wants higher court to increase sentence for PQ rally shooter Richard Bain

The Crown will ask the Quebec Court of Appeal to increase Richard Bain's sentence from 20 to25 years in prison before he's eligible to apply forparole, CBC News has learned.

"The gravity of the offence and the circumstances of its commission mandated that the maximum sentence be imposed,"prosecutor Dennis Galiatsatoswrotein a notice filed before theQuebec Court of Appeal.

According to court documents,Galiatsatosintends to argue this case "was so exceptionally egregious" that the higher court should apply the maximum sentence.

Bainwas found guilty of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder for the deadly 2012 shooting outside the Parti Qubcois'selection-night victory rally.

With a single bullet fired from his semi-automatic rifle, he shot and killed lighting technician Denis Blanchetteand seriously injured stagehand Dave Courage.

Defence lawyer Alan Guttmanhas already filed a request to appeal his client's sentence.

• RichardBainto appeal sentence of 20 years before parole eligibility

He contendsBain should receive the minimum of 10 years, considering his lack of a criminal record and his mental state at the time of the attack.

The Crown also plans to contest that.

'A bloodbath of unspeakable proportions'

During sentencing arguments earlier this fall, Galiatsatosargued the attack outside Montreal's Metropolis would have been"a bloodbath of unspeakable proportions" if Bain'sgun didn'tjam,and if police had not intervened.

"It was an assembly of citizens celebrating democracy ... freedom of speech,cherished rights of Canadians," he said.

• Witness tells Richard Bain he will 'burn in hell' during sentencing hearing

For his part, Guttmanpointed outthat the 1984 National Assembly shooter, DenisLortie,got the minimum for his second-degree murder conviction.

Ultimately, Quebec Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer decided on 20 years before a chance of parole.

• Richard Bain not eligible for parole for 20 years for 2012 Quebec election-night murder