Pair found guilty of killing OPP officer Greg Pierzchala appeal murder convictions

Jane Stevenson
Published May 23, 2025  •  1 minute read
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In this image from a video shown in court, Brandi Stewart-Sperry stands beside a shooter – alleged to be Randall McKenzie – who fired six rounds through the pocket of his hoodie, killing Haldimand OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala on Dec. 22, 2022.
In this image from a video shown in court, Brandi Stewart-Sperry stands beside a shooter – alleged to be Randall McKenzie – who fired six rounds through the pocket of his hoodie, killing Haldimand OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala on Dec. 22, 2022. Photo by OPP /Court exhibit

The Ontario Court of Appeal has confirmed the two people found guilty of the 2022 killing of an Ontario Provincial Police officer are appealing their first-degree murder convictions.

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Randall McKenzie and Brandi Stewart-Sperry were both sentenced on April 24 to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years after a jury deliberated six-and-a-half hours.

Const. Greg Pierzchala was shot six times on Dec. 27, 2022 after showing up at a routine call about a vehicle in a ditch on Indian Line, near Hagersville, Ont.

The two suspects fled the scene in a stolen truck which cops tracked to a property belonging to McKenzie’s family, on Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.

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McKenzie, who was accused of being the trigger man while Stewart-Sperry was deemed an “aider and abettor” in the shooting, filed his appeal from the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre on May 21 and is only appealing his conviction.

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Among the reasons for the appeal were claims that the jury was biased and that the verdict was unreasonable.

He indicated he wanted to apply to Legal Aid Ontario for a new lawyer and, if his appeal was granted, he wanted a judge only trial instead of a judge and jury trial.

Stewart-Sperry, who is currently serving her sentence at the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton, Ont., also filed her appeal on May 21 and wanted to appeal both her conviction and sentence.

Among the reasons for the appeal were claims that several errors were made during the trial and that the verdict was unreasonable.

If her appeal is granted, Stewart-Sperry requested a trial with a judge and jury and would also apply for a legal aid lawyer.

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  1. In this image from a video shown in court, Brandi Stewart-Sperry stands beside a shooter – alleged to be Randall McKenzie – who fired six rounds through the pocket of his hoodie, killing Haldimand OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala on Dec. 22, 2022.
    Two found guilty of first-degree murder in OPP officer’s shooting death
  2. (L) Randall McKenzie, 25, and (R) Brandi Crystal Lyn Stewart-Sperry, 30, are charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of OPP Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala.
    ‘No evidence’ woman accused of murder knew OPP officer would be fatally shot: Defence
  3. In this image from a video shown in court, Brandi Stewart-Sperry stands beside a shooter – alleged to be Randall McKenzie – who fired six rounds through the pocket of his hoodie, killing Haldimand OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala on Dec. 22, 2022.
    MANDEL: ‘Partners in crime’ killed OPP rookie, Crown says in closing address
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