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
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.