Trial begins for Ont. man accused of impaired driving causing crash that claims officer’s life

The trial for a man charged in a crash that killed an off-duty police officer in Markham started Monday.

The trial has begun for a Markham, Ont. man accused of driving drunk and dangerously causing a 2022 crash that killed an off-duty police officer.

Haoju Zhou, 26, walked into the Newmarket courthouse Monday morning for the start of the trial accused of causing the death of York Regional Police constable Travis Gillespie, who was 38.

The head-on crash happened on Major Mackenzie Drive East near Warden Avenue, in Markham. Gillespie was on his way to work in Richmond Hill at the time of the 6 a.m. crash.

Zhou is represented by defence lawyer Thomas Evangelista.

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