OPP officer’s body cam captured him being shot near Hagersville, Ont., Crown tells murder trial

The trial for the first-degree murder of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Const. Greg Pierzchala began with the Crown presenting footage from Pierzchala’s body camera, showing the moment he was shot while responding to a vehicle in a ditch outside Hagersville in December 2022. The two accused, Randall McKenzie and Brandi Stewart-Sperry, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Crown prosecutor, Fraser McKracken, informed the court that a redacted version of the body camera footage would be shown to the jury, along with testimonies from bystanders who witnessed the shooting. Pierzchala, who was just 28 years old at the time of his death, had recently passed his 10-month probation period with the OPP.

Witnesses testified that they stopped to help McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry after their car ended up in the ditch. Several individuals offered assistance, including a couple on their way to Christmas dinner and a mother and daughter heading to the gas station. Pierzchala was the last person to stop and help the defendants before the shooting occurred.

According to the prosecution, McKenzie shot Pierzchala six times while Stewart-Sperry assisted him. After the shooting, McKenzie demanded the bystanders’ keys and fled with Stewart-Sperry in their car. Police were able to track the stolen vehicle to a home on Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, where McKenzie’s family resided.

During the pursuit, McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry fled into the woods, with police chasing them on foot and from the air. An OPP officer in a helicopter used thermal imaging to track the pair. Eventually, Stewart-Sperry surrendered followed by McKenzie, who was observed discarding a gun that was later identified as the weapon used in Pierzchala’s shooting.

The trial, presided over by Ontario Superior Court Justice Andrew Goodman, is being held in Cayuga and is expected to last six weeks. Family members of McKenzie, including his brother and cousin, are expected to testify during the trial. The prosecution also mentioned the recovery of McKenzie’s phone, which contained texts from the day of the shooting.

The evidence presented in court paints a detailed picture of the events leading up to and following Pierzchala’s tragic death. As the trial progresses, more testimonies and evidence will shed light on the circumstances surrounding this heinous crime.