TORONTO - Ross Hammond, who worked in the accounting department for adult site Guerilla Traffic, reportedly was stabbed to death by four panhandlers on Aug. 9 on Queen Street West in St. Catharines.
All four alleged murderers were arrested, but Nicole Kish, 21, who was charged with second-degree murder for Hammond's death, was released on bail Tuesday afternoon. She also was charged with aggravated assault against Hammond's friend and co-worker George Dranichak, who was walking with the murdered man at the time of the stabbing.
Kish is scheduled to appear in court in the next few weeks, when dates for her preliminary hearing and trial will be set.
U.S. citizens Douglas Fresh, 22; Jeremy Woolley, 21, and Faith Watts, 22, were charged with aggravated assault. Woolley also was charged with assault causing bodily harm and obstructing a police officer.
Police said Hammond, a 32-year-old resident of St. Catharines, was stabbed after refusing to give money to the panhandlers. The attack reportedly began when Watts slammed her bicycle into Dranichak's knee. Police said Hammond was stabbed eight times, but the preliminary report didn't identify who stabbed him.
Toronto police are in possession of the knife used to stab Hammond; witnesses reportedly saw Kish holding the weapon.
Dranichak reportedly escaped the scene in a taxi cab while Hammond was being beaten. Asked for a comment, Dranichak told reporters that he is working very closely with police and "is not really allowed to talk about the case in any way.
"I lost a very, very close friend, and I need time to mourn," he said. "I can't give out anything else; there's an ongoing investigation and I'm a part of it. I'm sorry; that's all I can say."
Sgt. Gary Giroux of the Toronto Police Department told AVN Online on Thursday that the investigation is "continuing," and that Fresh, Woolley and Watts were being detained on "immigration holds" and face criminal charges.
"I know that it is ironic that the people not charged with murder are still in [jail and] the one that was charged is out, but ... the greater immigration hold, regardless of if they are granted bail, still holds them in custody," he said. "Even if they are granted bail, the holds will still take precedence over the release. They will appear in the next week or so in court again, or biweekly with regards to re-mandates. They are certainly entitled to a bail hearing, but it is a bit of a waste of time in the sense that if they are granted bail - and quite frankly, they just might be - they are still detained and will ultimately be sent back to the United States."
Giroux said Kish's bail was $160,000 and had "numerous" conditions.
"She is basically on house arrest and she must stay at a relative's home," he said. "She cannot leave the home unless she is in the company of one of the individuals who has signed for her - one of the people who have put up money.
"Community members and the family of the victim are very upset about this verdict - that Kish has been set free - and have been voicing their opinions within the local papers over here," Giroux continued. "The defense council portrayed Kish as a nice girl. And when that happened, the father of the victim, Bruce Hammond, said something like, ‘Well, let me tell you what a nice young man my son was. He will get no second chances and he is confined to his grave.'"
Toronto Sun reporter Joe Warmington told AVN Online on Thursday that "it's not uncommon for people to be let go on second-degree murder charges here."
"There is a strange rumor circulating," he said. "I am not sure if there has been an arrangement made with Nicole Kish's family, who might have received decreased charges for their daughter in exchange for keeping the fact quiet that Hammond worked in the adult industry."
According to Santa Cruz police spokesman Zach Friend, Watts is a transient with a lengthy criminal record that includes multiple crimes committed within weeks of one another.
Ross Hammond's father, Bruce Hammond, said he and his slain son's wife, Kara, were displeased with the news that Kish will be free until her court date.
"Sure, we are pissed off," Bruce Hammond said. "Sure, we are mad. I am not really sure what we can do about it. What can we say? Do you want me to say she shouldn't be walking the street? My son is still dead."
