CANON_Grow
Well-Known Member
I do hope the government and courts are looking at making sure pre-trial detention or community safeguards are looked at. There was an obvious failure in this case as there was a warrant out for the one suspect since September.
Mounting calls for changes to Canada’s justice system following the shooting death of OPP officer
4,475 views Dec 29, 2022
Throughout the community of Hagersville Thursday, tributes poured in for the fallen OPP officer, and blue ribbons were put up in honor of Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala.
Throughout the community, people were in shock over the news from the commissioner of the OPP. “I’m outraged over the fact McKenzie was out on bail and provided the opportunity to take the life of an innocent officer,” OPP Thomas Carrique said in a press conference Wednesday.
25-year-old Randall McKenzie, identified by police as being from the Mississauga’s of the New Credit First Nation is charged with first-degree murder in the police officer’s death, along with 30-year-old Brandi Stewart-Sperry of Hamilton.
Police say the officer was shot and killed Tuesday when he was called to help a vehicle in the ditch. The suspects were arrested several hours later.
The OPP commissioner says McKenzie had previously been convicted of numerous charges but was released on bail.
Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady says the bail system has to be toughened up, “this is a system that this young man chose to go out and uphold, and yet the very system he was out there to uphold failed him.”
Conservative Member of Parliament for Brantford-Brant Larry Brock says this follows what he calls the liberal government’s soft-on-crime policies, and people want something better, “they’re very angry they’re extremely angry at our criminal legal system that allows these dangerous offenders to be released without the appropriate supervision, the appropriate ability to protect our communities.”
Suspect Randall McKenzie’s family issued a statement expressing their condolences to Const. Pierzchala’s family, saying “we wish them healing and peace.”
The OPP commissioner also said in his statement that Const. Pierzchala was ambushed when he was killed. He was there to help a vehicle in the ditch but the commissioner says he was shot before he had a chance to defend himself. He didn’t use his gun.
Really surprised the OPP commissioner is commenting as much as he is. His comments when three of his officers were charged with manslaughter:
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique extended sympathies to the family in a statement Wednesday, saying it is "devastating when an innocent life is lost during an incident." Carrique said the OPP would not comment further as the case works its way through the courts.
If the suspects are found guilty after a fair trial, they will spend the rest of their lives in prison. Getting a fair trial gets harder and harder the more they share. Add in the aspect with a First Nation member, not sure I would want to be the Crown that has to take this to court.