The friends of a Newmarket man who is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of his young son say the 29-year-old suspect was a caring father.
Mario Wint was arrested last Saturday, two days after he called 911. York Regional Police say Wint's two-year-old son Matthias was found not breathing in a home on Longford Drive. The young boy was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police have not released the cause of death.
On Wednesday, Wint made a brief court appearance in Newmarket. The courtroom was packed with more than a dozen of Wint's friends and supporters.
They say he spent nearly two years fighting for custody of Matthias and his four-year-old brother. The two boys were living with their father for approximately a month when Matthias was found not breathing on Jan. 22.
Wint's friends say they find it difficult to believe that the Newmarket father would fight to keep his children, only to harm one of them.
"This is all really ridiculous. I don’t think for a second that he did what he is accused of," Naomi Little told CTV Toronto on Wednesday.
Another woman who said her three children often played with Wint's boys, described the young father's home as being a safe place.
"My kids were over there. He was happy they were playing games," Chrissy Roberts said.
Wint is expected to remain in police custody. His lawyer Steven Skurka says his client "is in a solemn and serious mood. (Wint) understands the gravity of the charge that has been laid."
CTV Toronto has learned Wint was convicted in 2013 with assault with a deadly weapon. He was handed a sentence of 16 days in prison with credit for 104 days or pre-sentence custody, and three years of probation.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Heather Wright
