Two accused denied bail

TheStar.com - News - Two accused denied bail
Publication ban on evidence in shooting
January 14, 2008
Philip Mascoll
staff reporter

The mother of a young man charged with first-degree murder in the gun slaying of an innocent bystander covered her face with shaking hands as the 23-year-old walked into the prisoner's dock at Old City Hall courts.

Just behind her, close to a dozen family members of the man's 22-year-old co-accused tried to catch his eye.

The justice of the peace denied bail yesterday to Awet Zekarias, 23, and Edward Paredes, 22, both of Toronto.

He ordered the pair held in custody, and placed a publication ban on evidence at the hearing.

Both Zekarias and Paredes are charged with first-degree murder in the death of 42-year-old father John O'Keefe, and the attempted murder of a bouncer at the Brass Rail Tavern, a strip club on Yonge St., south of Bloor St.

Police said a shot fired at the bouncer by two men, who had been ejected from the club early Saturday, instead hit O'Keefe, who was walking by.

O'Keefe was hit in the head and pronounced dead at the scene.

Toronto police Det. Graham Gibson said last night that the semiautomatic handgun allegedly involved in the shooting was registered to Paredes, who he said is a target shooter.

Zekarias and Paredes were blank-faced while their families wept during the hearing, which ended when they were remanded in custody until this morning at Old City Hall.

Outside the hearing, Zekarias' mother and Paredes' relatives declined to speak to the media.

"No. Please, not now, no newspapers," the distraught woman said.

A spokesperson for the Paredes family said they would not be speaking to the media and took exception when a photographer took pictures of the family as they left the courthouse.