Man accused of ending longtime friend's life appears in court
On Wednesday, the 25-year-old man accused of killing his longtime friend and dumping his body made a court appearance in Barrie.
Gabriel DiCecco, who has been behind bars since his arrest seven months ago, sat in the prisoner’s box in a trial-scheduling courtroom as his lawyer set dates for a preliminary hearing.
DiCecco is charged with first-degree murder following the death of his friend, 24-year-old William Schernhammer of Alliston, who went missing on the night of January 12 when he told ones he was heading out to buy cigarettes with a friend.
DiCecco was arrested in late January and charged with committing an indignity to a dead body and obstructing a peace officer.
The first-degree murder charge came three weeks after Schernhammer was reported missing. Loved ones said DiCecco picked William up to grab cigarettes from a nearby gas station in Alliston. For days, they appealed for the public’s help to bring him home. His family never saw William alive again.
Schernhammer’s body was found in late January in the area of the 25th sideroad in Adjala-Tosorontio. Investigators have not confirmed how Schernhammer died or whether there are other suspects involved.
In June, however, police released a photo and video on social media asking for the public’s help finding what appeared to be a light-coloured vehicle, possibly a Buick LeSabre from 2000-2005. The vehicle was seen in the area around the time of Schernhammer’s disappearance.
Investigators believe the driver and those inside the car have information on the case.
DiCecco is scheduled to appear at the Bradford courthouse later this month.
The allegations against him have not been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Despite union protest, new hybrid work rules for federal employees kick in Monday
Public service unions will start the week with an early-morning rally opposing the policy. But despite the unions' 'summer of discontent' and an ongoing court challenge, the new rules will still kick in on Sept. 9.
Here's what jobs will survive in the AI boom: Statistics Canada estimates
A recent study by Statistics Canada sheds light on how different occupations may be affected by the AI boom, including those who might lose their jobs in a more automation-driven future.
'Extremely vigorous' wildfire activity in central B.C. prompts crews to back off for safety
The wildfire fight in central B.C. intensified Friday, according to officials.
21 children are now known to have died in Kenya school fire
The number of children who were burned to death in a school dormitory in central Kenya has risen to 21, the government spokesperson said Saturday.
Paul Anka says long-in-the-works Broadway musical is still on the horizon
After well over a decade of planning to adapt his life story into a stage musical, the 83-year-old Ottawa-born musician says the concept is finally getting traction.
N.S. RCMP apologizes to Black community for wide-ranging effects of street checks
The commander of the RCMP in Nova Scotia says the force is sorry for the wide-ranging harms the province's Black community suffered due to the Mounties' historic use of street checks.
Quebec to authorize advance requests for medical assistance in dying as of Oct. 30
Quebec will authorize advance requests for medical assistance in dying (MAID) without waiting for Ottawa to amend its Criminal Code.
Intruder breaks into Richmond daycare
It was a parent’s worst nightmare early Friday morning at a Richmond daycare, when an intruder broke into the centre.
Motorcyclist killed in collision with moose on Quebec highway
A motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a moose on Friday evening in Saint-Modeste, near Rivière-du-Loup in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec.