One of the men accused of killing Jonathan Zak will be a step closer to trial next month.
That's when a date will be set for a judicial pretrial for William McDonald. He made a brief court appearance by video from the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre on Tuesday. The court heard that McDonald's lawyer, David Stoesser, is awaiting more disclosure from the Crown. A representative acting on Stoesser's behalf asked that the case be put over until December 5, at which time a date for a judicial pre-trial is expected to be set.
During the two-minute long appearance, McDonald said his name, date of birth, and thanked the Justice of the Peace for her time.
McDonald is facing two counts of second degree murder in relation to two separate incidents four years apart. The 27-year-old has been in custody since February when he was charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Emmanuel Awai, 26, who was found dead in an apartment at 135 Connaught Ave. last December.
The other second degree murder charge was laid in May in connection with the 2012 death of Jonathan Zak. Thomas Lako, 25, is also charged with manslaughter in connection to the case.
Zak, 29, was coming home after an evening with friends on May 31, 2012 when he was shot dead on a footpath near Boullee St. and Victoria St. Police believe he was the intended target of a robbery and did not know his killers.
Charges against McDonald in a parking lot shooting that injured a man in the area of John St. and Richmond St. in April 2016 have been withdrawn, Stoesser confirmed.
