A Toronto jury has convicted two men charged with killing an innocent passerby on Yonge Street.
John O'Keefe was shot once in the head more than two years ago outside the Brass Rail Tavern as he headed home from a nearby pub.
On Thursday, a jury convicted Edward Paredes, 24, of second-degree murder and Awet Zekarias, 25, of manslaughter.
Paredes tried to plead guilty to manslaughter at the start of the trial in Ontario Superior Court but the prosecution refused the offer.
The court heard testimony that Paredes and Zekarias were in the strip club south of Bloor Street in Toronto, celebrating Zekarias's birthday.
Bar staff ejected the pair, claiming they were behaving in an unacceptable manner and tossing them into the street.
Paredes admitted pulling a gun from his waistband outside the bar and firing, though he insists he did not mean to kill O'Keefe. He said he was firing at the bouncers who had ejected him.
Zekarais, the court was told, urged Paredes to shoot.
O'Keefe, a 42-year-old father, was struck by one bullet and died instantly at about 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 12, 2008.
Paredes and Zekarias will be sentenced later.
CBC News
