A man and woman charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of a Haldimand OPP officer made a brief court appearance on Dec. 28.
Randall McKenzie, 25, of Kingston, Ont., and Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry, 30, of Hamilton, Ont., are in custody following the shooting death Tuesday afternoon of Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala.
They appeared virtually in front of a justice of the peace in the Ontario Court of Justice at the Cayuga courthouse.
The police officer was shot while responding to a vehicle in a ditch at Indian Line and Concession 14, just west of Hagersville, shortly after 2:30 pm
He was transported to West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville where he was later pronounced dead.
In addition to issuing a detention order for both the accused, the justice of the peace issued a non-communication order for a list of people who are potential Crown witnesses and family members of the slain officer.
The OPP were expected to announce the charges at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Court records show McKenzie was released on bail six months ago while facing charges including assaulting a police officer and possessing a handgun.
McKenzie, of no fixed address at the time, was arrested on Dec. 1, 2021, and charged with a dozen offenses including assault with a weapon, assaulting a peace officer, assault, possession of a firearm without a licence, carrying a concealed weapon , mischief and possession of counterfeit money.
The gun involved was a handgun with its serial number removed and McKenzie was under a pair of weapons bans imposed by judges in 2016 and 2018, the documents say.
The two accused are to make their next virtual court appearance on Jan. 17.
With files from the London Press Press