A man arrested and charged in the deadly Moka Cafe shooting in Woodbridge said “he did nothing wrong” at his first court appearance in Newmarket on Saturday morning.
Jason Hay, 27, made a brief appearance in the Newmarket court and was remanded into custody until Aug. 24.
Hay’s father and sister were present in the courtroom, along with the families of the shooting victims.
York Regional Police arrested and charged Hay after a “high-risk takedown” on Highway 400 in Barrie on Friday.
Hay was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder after the vehicle he was in was stopped on Highway 400, between Essa Road and Mapleview Drive.
Witnesses reported seeing unmarked police cruisers collide with a vehicle on the highway.
On June 24, a man walked into the Moka Espresso Bar in Woodbridge, Ont., and opened fire at approximately 8:20 a.m.
Maria Voci, 47, and Christopher DeSimone, 24, were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men were also injured in the attack, but have since been released from hospital.
Prior to Hay’s arrest, police issued a Canada-wide warrant for his alleged role in the shooting.
Police also arrested Tashari Bennett, 25, who was in the vehicle with Hay, and charged her with accessory after the fact and breach of recognizance.
According to York police, Bennett was out on bail after a stabbing that sent four to hospital in Winnipeg. Bennett, along with four others, were charged with numerous offences including attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm.
One of Bennett’s bail conditions was that she return to Ontario, according to the Winnipeg Court House. She is expected back in court in September.
