Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique speaks to media during a press conference at the Haldimand OPP detachment in Cayuga, Ont., on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate the alleged murder of an officer who police say was ambushed while responding to a call. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
HAMILTON – Court documents show the man accused of killing an Ontario Provincial Police officer had been initially denied bail, and was later granted it upon review, in a separate case months before the alleged shooting.
The documents show 25-year-old Randall McKenzie was denied bail in December 2021 as he awaited trial in Hamilton on a number of charges including assault, assaulting a peace officer, and several firearms offences.
The documents show that the decision was reviewed and McKenzie was granted bail in June under strict conditions, including that he wear a GPS monitor, live with his surety and report to police twice a week.
The documents do not detail the reasons for either decision, but they show a judge issued a warrant for his arrest in August after McKenzie failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance.
McKenzie and 30-year-old Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry are each facing a charge of first-degree murder in the death of OPP Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala.
Police say Pierzchala was shot dead when he responded to a call about a vehicle in a ditch just west of Hagersville, Ont., Tuesday afternoon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2022.
