HALDIMAND—Randall McKenzie and Brandi Stewart-Sperry are both appealing their convictions for first degree murder in the shooting death of Haldimand OPP Constable Greg Pierzchala.
Pierzchala was shot and killed while on duty on December 27, 2022. Following a six-week trial, McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry were convicted April 24, 2025. Both were handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years.
The prosecution identified McKenzie as the shooter, while Stewart-Sperry was convicted of aiding him as the pair tried to evade police until being arrested in a woodlot behind McKenzie’s brother’s house in Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Evidence that led to the conviction included body cam footage, testimonials of eye witnesses, the detectives and officers involved in the manhunt and investigation, and forensic experts who connected McKenzie to the murder weapon.
Stewart-Sperry was convicted based on the assertion of Crown Prosecutor Fraser McCracken, who argued that she knew a police encounter would likely lead to arrest and deliberately concealed McKenzie’s movements to access the weapon in the moments before the shooting.
In a hand-written appeal form, McKenzie said his reasoning for appealing is that members of the jury exhibited bias early in the trial. This assertion is based on a letter of concern submitted to Justice Andrew Goodman on March 31 in which jurors identified “four to six” individuals they believed to be supporters of McKenzie standing around the courthouse and creating concern for their safety.
While Goodman ordered the jury not to speculate on the connection at the time, he also added additional security for jurors with an OPP escort to and from their vehicles for the remainder of the trial.
Stewart-Sperry’s appeal is based on eight listed reasons, including an unreasonable verdict, an error to permit the use of after-the-fact conduct, and failing to change the venue of the trial following the above-noted incident.
If their appeals are granted, McKenzie would seek a jury-free trial in front of a judge, while Stewart-Sperry has requested a full judge-and-jury trial again.
Currently, McKenzie is being held at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre, while Stewart-Sperry is at the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton.
Stay tuned to The Press for updates as they become available.
