The family of an anti-gang activist is blaming the Canadian justice system for his murder.
Twenty-nine-year-old Kenneth Mark was killed on Tuesday night and his relatives believe the people responsible for his murder had shot him in a separate incident, but were acquitted last month.
In September 2008, Mark was in the courtyard of a building when a man allegedly pointed shotgun at a woman and her young child. Mark cradled the two in an effort to protect them and wound up shot in the back and head.
Mark’s family says he knew the men who were accused of shooting him and testified against them in court. But the judge decided there was not enough evidence and set them free on December 17th.
Later that month, Mark was dead. He had been shot on his way to a job at Walmart.
“He did what he was supposed to do as any citizen of this country. These are the laws of Canada. Somebody commits a crime. You witness a crime. You do the right thing. Ken did the right thing but the justice system failed. And they keep failing,” said Mark’s sister-in-law, Earla Mark.
“Now is the time for the justice system to prove to our family that they will get these guys, and they will put them behind bars. And they will not come out on the street again to hurt other innocent people.”
Police have released surveillance video of a male they believe acted as a lookout during Mark's murder.
If you can help, call police at (416) 808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (416) 222-TIPS.