Man and woman charged with murder in OPP constable's death appear in court
Bail hearings for the man and woman charged with murder in the death of an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) constable have been adjourned to next month.
Randall McKenzie, 25, and Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry, 30, are each charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Const. Greg Pierzchala.
Both made brief appearances in a Cayuga, Ont. courtroom Tuesday before the hearing was adjourned to Feb. 21.
Defense teams say they need more time to review relevant evidence from prosecutors, with another wave of disclosures expected in mid-February.
Pierzchala was shot while responding to a call for a vehicle in a ditch west of Hagersville on Dec. 27. The 28-year-old later died in hospital.
Police have said Pierzchala was “essentially ambushed” and had no chance to defend himself.
EXPERT WEIGHS IN
Ari Goldkind, a criminal defence attorney who is not involved in this case says it’s common for a bail hearing to get adjourned when the charge is first-degree murder.
“Murder is a very specific and unique thing. When you are charged with murder, you don’t get a run of the mill bail hearing on a Tuesday in court. It must be booked at the superior court,” Goldkind said, adding it’s very rare for bail to be sought in first-degree murder cases.
Randall McKenzie, 25, and Brandi Stewart-Sperry, 30, appear separately in a Cayuga, Ont. courtroom on Dec. 28, 2022 via video call. (Court sketch by Alexandra Newbould)
While both of the accused are facing the same charge, their outcomes could be different when it comes to being granted bail, he said.
Goldkind thinks it’s unlikely McKenzie will be released on bail, but Stewart-Sperry might be.
“If the lady’s role is diminished – she was just there or along for the ride or potentially didn’t know what he was going to do to the officer – a court may see fit to release her on a very, very strict bail,” he explained.
CALLS FOR BAIL REFORM
McKenzie was out on bail with a number of conditions at the time of the shooting.
The OPP have said he was under a lifetime firearms prohibition and had been charged in 2021 with several firearms offences and assaulting a peace officer. A warrant had been issued for this arrest and additional charges were laid after he failed to show up for a court appearance in September.
His criminal past has sparked calls from bail reform. Earlier this week, the premiers of all 13 provinces and territories signed a letter to the prime minister urging Ottawa to take immediate action to strengthen Canada’s bail system.
However, Goldkind says the current bail system works.
“Focus on the small subset of people who are a danger to you and I, and to police and law enforcement. That’s where the attention should be focused,” he said. “To say that everybody gets a free pass and it’s a revolving door – no, come with me for a day at bail court and I’ll set you straight.”
Both McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry have been in custody since their arrest.
McKenzie is being held at the Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre. Stewart-Sperry is at the Vanier Centre for Women.
With file from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.