Man accused in fatal pushing attack on woman in Toronto refuses to appear in court
The man accused of fatally shoving an 89-year-old woman in downtown Toronto refused to appear in court Wednesday and remains in custody pending a bail hearing.
Ryan Cunneen, 37, has been charged with manslaughter. The charge was upgraded from aggravated assault on Tuesday following an autopsy on the victim.
Cunneen, who has no fixed address, was arrested Friday after the incident near Yonge and King streets around 11:40 a.m.
On Tuesday, the suspect appeared in court by video from a holding cell. During that appearance, the judge read a list of people Cunneen was to stay away from.
Cunneen told the court he was tired and closed his eyes at time.
At the end he gave a "Thumb’s up," appearing happy to be leaving the court.
On Wednesday, when Cunneen refused to appear, someone in the court noted he was able to hear the proceedings over the phone.
Ryan Cunneen, 37, of Toronto has been charged with manslaughter after a woman he allegedly pushed to the ground died of her injuries. (CTV News Toronto/ Alexandra Newbould)
Police have called the attack unprovoked, and said the woman had serious face and head injuries before dying. Security video from inside a nearby restaurant shows the woman fall forcefully to the ground, before a suspect is seen running.
Meanwhile, CTV News Toronto has obtained court documents showing Cunneen previously faced one count of assault, dating back to February 2020.
Court staff said he was arrested in October 2020 in relation to that incident and released on an undertaking, meaning he promised the officer he would appear in court.
Staff said he went to court with a few appearances on that charge, until he got a bench warrant for his arrest on May 2021. These are issued when an accused repeatedly doesn’t appear for court appearances.
According to officials, he missed court appearances on April and May 2021.
Staff said on Jan. 20, after Cunneen was arrested in connection with the woman being pushed downtown, police then looked at information and fingerprints, linking him to the previous 2020 incident.
None of the allegations in court have been proven.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. schools turn to artificial intelligence to spot guns as companies press lawmakers for state funds
Kansas could soon offer up to US$5 million in grants for schools to outfit surveillance cameras with artificial intelligence systems that can spot people carrying guns. But the governor needs to approve the expenditures and the schools must meet some very specific criteria.
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
opinion Harry and Meghan's Nigerian adventure: traditional attire to warm welcomes
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
DEVELOPING Cohen expected to take the stand as testimony in Trump hush money case enters 4th week
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Man fatally 'slashed in the neck' in downtown Toronto, suspect outstanding
Police are searching for a male suspect after a man was “slashed in neck” on Sunday morning in downtown Toronto and died.