Court lowers murder charges against John Paul Ostamas: lawyer
39-year-old man faces now faces 3 counts of 2nd-degree murder in deaths of Winnipeg homeless men
Two charges against John Paul Ostamas have been reduced from first-degree murder to second-degree murder says his defence lawyer, Greg Brodsky.
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Ostamas now faces three charges of second-degree murder in the deaths of 37-year-old Miles Monias, 48-year-old Stony Stanley Bushie and 65-year-old Donald Collins, said Brodsky.
All three men were homeless at the time of their deaths, as was Ostamas when the men were killed.
Crown attorneys did not oppose Brodsky's motion to reduce two of the charges to second-degree murder. That decision is an "encouragement" for Ostamas to plead guilty, Brodsky said.
When asked whether his client plans plead guilty, Brodsky said he still has to resolve some undisclosed disputes.
"Before I make any commitments I want to see how we resolve these matters in dispute," said Brodsky.
The lawyer wouldn't say what the matters are, only that they are not appropriate to discuss with media.
Brodsky did say there is no question his client is responsible for the deaths of Monias, Bushie and Collins.
"The fact that he did it isn't in dispute because they were recorded on surveillance cameras," said Brodsky
Ostamas does not wish to pursue a defense of not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder, the lawyer said.
Ostamas is scheduled to appear in court May 11 at which time a date for a resolution conference will be scheduled.