Man accused of killing 28-year-old in Ontario released on bail
An accused murderer was released on bail in Ontario this week after allegedly killing a 28-year-old man outside a bar, leading the victim's family to question if justice will be served.
Early in the morning on Oct. 15, soccer star Arun Vigneswararajah was killed after a fight outside the Kings Castle bar in Ajax, Ont. took a horrific turn. Vigneswararajah was stabbed in the chest and later died.
Thirty-four-year-old Chard Patrick of Ajax was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the investigation.
But last weekend, Patrick was released on bail.
"I'm devastated. I'm devastated in a sense that I feel the justice system really failed on us and literally putting public safety at risk," a friend of Vigneswararajah, who asked not to be identified, said.
According to court documents, Patrick was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and one count of uttering threats in September 2022, just a month before the murder.
"What's really concerning and the family's devastated to learn about, was that this individual has prior charges," a friend of Vigneswararajah's said.
"I don't think that there's any circumstances where someone charged with second-degree murder, that already has outstanding charges and any kind of a record, should be released on bail," former OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis told CTV News Toronto.
Lewis is an advocate for bail reform, and he said in cases like this there should be "reverse onus" where the presumption of innocence is flipped making the accused person prove why they shouldn't be in jail.
Early in the morning on Oct. 15, soccer star Arun Vigneswararajah was killed after a fight outside the Kings Castle bar in Ajax, Ont. took a horrific turn. Vigneswararajah was stabbed in the chest and later died.
Though it may be frustrating for family of the victim or members of the public to hear of someone charged with murder getting bail, one criminal lawyer said this is not unheard of.
Criminal defence lawyer Kim Schofield said the situation depends on bail conditions, adding, "if you can have a restrictive bail that is really a house arrest, and a house arrest it's not just a stay in your house, with an electronic monitoring bracelet. Someone there to supervise, then people should be releasable."
The bail restrictions for Patrick are he must remain at the home of his surety, with exceptions like a medical emergency or to attend court. He must surrender his passports, have no contact with certain people, no alcohol or weapons, and must wear a GPS monitor at all times.
But Lewis questions the effectiveness of these rules, saying, "these rules are great if someone decides to obey them, but people that commit violent crimes generally don't obey the rules or they wouldn't be committing violent crimes to begin with."
Those who knew Vigneswararajah are frustrated, and they are losing confidence in the justice system.
Patrick will next appear in court on March 27. The charges have not been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.