Crown, defence make final arguments in trial of pair accused of killing OPP officer [Video]

Two people accused of murder in the 2022 death of a provincial police officer intentionally killed the constable and fled from the scene in a stolen vehicle because they had “dwindling options” to avoid arrest, the Crown argued Tuesday in its closing submission to the jury.

The defence lawyer for one of the accused, however, argued there is enough reasonable doubt for the jury to find his client not guilty.

Ontario Provincial Police Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala was shot on Dec. 27, 2022 while responding to a vehicle in a ditch west of Hagersville, Ont., near Brantford.

Randall McKenzie and Brandi Stewart-Sperry were each charged with first-degree murder in the 28-year-old officer’s death. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Fraser McCracken argued in his closing submissions that McKenzie was the shooter and that Stewart-Sperry intentionally helped him.

An agreed statement of fact prosecutors read earlier in the trial said a man …