The jury at the second-degree murder trial of Zachary McDermott heard about a week and a half of testimony before the Crown and defence lawyers reached a resolution in the case on Tuesday morning. The 26-year-old accused was facing a charge of second-degree murder for shooting 21-year-old Christopher Clements-Card in the back twice outside a Tim Hortons shop on Dundas Street East on Sept. 12 of 2018.However after consulting with his legal team McDermott stood up in the prisoners box and plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Crown Attorney Kristina Mildred told Justice Patricia Moore, “The Crown will indicate for the record there has been additional evidence not heard by the court that relates to the issue of self-defence...particularly with reference to threats and possession of a firearm by the deceased.” Last week during the trial, the jury watched video surveillance footage of the killing with the accused pulling up to the coffee shop in a silver Chevy and shooting Clements-Card. The victim would be rushed to hospital where he would later be pronounced dead. McDermott who was 18 at the time of the shooting, has spent more than 8 years in custody with much of it being at the Maplehurst Detention Centre in Milton. As the guilty plea was entered the family and friends of Clements-Card were not present in the body of the courtroom. The jury was then called in and were dismissed from the trial. The case has been adjourned until Wednesday and that’s when a sentencing hearing will be held for McDermott.
