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Court backs escorted community visits for man who killed cop with a snowplow

Ontario’s top court has upheld a decision to allow a man who killed a Toronto police officer with a snowplow escorted passes into the community.

TORONTO — Ontario’s top court has upheld a decision to allow a man who killed a Toronto police officer with a snowplow escorted passes into the community.

The Appeal Court said the decision by the Ontario Review Board granting Richard Kachkar the privilege was reasonable.

The Crown had argued that allowing Kachkar into the community was premature and potentially dangerous.

However, the court said expert evidence suggested any risk could be safely managed.

Kachkar was charged with first-degree murder after he stole a snowplow and killed Const. Ryan Russell in downtown Toronto in January 2011.

The jury found him not criminally responsible by reason of a mental disorder and he has been held at a mental health facility.