The man accused of killing Dereck Szaflarski is now charged with first-degree murder.
London police announced Thursday that the charge of second-degree murder laid against Robert Ashley Williams had been upgraded to first-degree murder.
Williams surrendered to police on May 30, a few days after Szaflarski was stabbed to death at Richmond St. and Piccadilly St. The 27-year-old had been out celebrating his birthday when he was killed. Police say an autopsy determined that he died of multiple stab wounds. They also said Williams and Szaflarski did not know each other.
A statement from London police says "as a result of the analysis of evidence collected, police were able to establish reasonable and probable grounds to upgrade the charge to first-degree murder."
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, a first-degree murder charge is laid when a murder was planned and deliberate, contracted, or committed while committing or trying to commit sexual assault, kidnapping, criminal harassment, terrorist activity, or intimidation.
Williams was to appear in court Thursday to answer to the upgraded charge.
Two other people, Williams' mother and a friend, are also facing charges in the case. Lorraine Sturdy, 60, and Julie Hudson, 41, are each facing a charge of being an accessory after the fact to murder.
