Nicholas Bennett, the 19-year-old suspect charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a veteran Toronto police officer, made a brief court appearance Wednesday. Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Bennett addressed the court virtually from what appeared to be a hospital room. Bennett allegedly shot and killed Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, in June as the Toronto Police Service’s Emergency Task Force executed a raid related to several shootings in the city, including one at the U.S. Consulate in March. Police returned fire and Bennett was shot. He was unconscious for a week following the encounter before he was formally charged. This is Bennett’s third court appearance since the shooting, but the first in which he spoke to court directly. During his first court appearance related to the matter on June 19, Bennett gave the court a thumbs up from his St. Michael’s Hospital bed when he was asked if he could hear and understand the proceedings. Two other suspects, Zara Jabbi, 19, and Sheldon Tracy-Stewart, 18, were also charged in connection with the March 10 shooting at the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto. Police said they believe that shooting and others were carried out in a “gun-for-hire” scheme where young people are paid to shoot at various targets. Bennett will return to court on Nov. 4.
