Suspect in Toronto cop killing appears in court for third time

Nicholas Bennett, 19, charged with first-degree murder in the June shooting death of Const. Marc Pinizzotto, made a brief virtual court appearance Wednesday.

Alleged cop killer appears virtually from hospital room

Nicholas Bennett, the 19-year-old charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a Toronto police officer, made a brief court appearance Wednesday — his third since the incident, and the first in which he spoke directly to the court, cp24.com reports.

Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Bennett addressed proceedings virtually from what appeared to be a hospital room.

Bennett is accused of shooting and killing Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, in June, as the Toronto Police Service's Emergency Task Force executed a raid linked to multiple shootings across the city, including one at the U.S. Consulate in March. Officers returned fire during the encounter, and Bennett was shot. He remained unconscious for a week before being formally charged.

At his first court appearance on June 19, Bennett gave a thumbs up from his bed at St. Michael's Hospital when asked whether he could hear and understand the proceedings.

Two other suspects — Zara Jabbi, 19, and Sheldon Tracy-Stewart, 18 — have also been charged in connection with the March 10 shooting at the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto.

Police believe that attack and several others were part of a "gun-for-hire" scheme in which young people were paid to shoot at various targets.

Bennett is due back in court on November 4.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)