Accused in crossbow killings appears in court alone save for his lawyer
Brett Anthony Ryan's next court appearance will be Sept. 23
The man charged in the triple homicide of his mother and two brothers showed up in court this morning by video link, with no apparent friends or family in the Scarborough courtroom to support him.
Brett Anthony Ryan, 35, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his mother, Susan Ryan, and two of his brothers, Christopher Ryan, 42, and Alexander Ryan, 29.
He appeared on a television screen in court wearing an orange jumpsuit as his lawyer, GJ Partington, set a date for the defence to receive the Crown's evidence before deciding whether to move forward with a trial. The prosecution must disclose the information it has so far at the next hearing on Sept. 23.
Police arrested Ryan on Aug. 26 at his mother's house at 10 Lawndale Rd. Susan Ryan would be found dead of strangulation, while her two sons were killed by a crossbow bolt or arrowhead, autopsy results revealed this week.
In 2009, Ryan served about 15 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to 16 combined counts of robbery and disguise with intent for holding up 14 banks across the Greater Toronto Area beginning in 2007. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail, but was released on day parole in May 2010.
He received full parole in November 2010.