Catherine McDonald
Crime Specialist
Catherine McDonald is Global News Toronto’s veteran crime reporter. Catherine worked as a reporter in Red Deer, Alberta and Victoria, BC before moving to Toronto in November 2000 where she has worked at Global since. She began reporting exclusively on crime shortly after covering the release of Karla Homolka from prison in 2005.
A graduate of McGill University and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Catherine has covered some of the biggest crime stories in the Greater Toronto Area over the years, including the disappearance and murder of 10-year-old Holly Jones in 2003, the murder of Markham woman Alicia Ross in 2005, the Bruce McArthur serial killer investigation and the murders of billionaires Honey and Barry Sherman.
Spending a lot of time in court, some of the notable trials she won’t forget include the trial of two Mississauga sisters convicted of first-degree murder after drowning their mother in a bathtub in 2002, the trial of a Toronto anaesthesiologist convicted of sexually assaulting 21 women while they were sedated on the operating room table between 2006 and 2010 and the trial of three Toronto police officers charged with gang sexual assault. More recently, Catherine has covered the trial of a man found guilty of driving while drunk and stoned – killing a young father who was the son-in-law of a senior officer from York Regional Police – and the guilty plea and sentencing of a once well-respected lawyer who was married to a Justice of the Peace from Newmarket, who was convicted of bigamy and forging divorce documents.
When not chasing bad guys and telling the stories of the victims left behind, Catherine can be found at the gym or at the playground chasing after her two young girls.
Contact Catherine McDonald
Video Archives
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Son on trial for 2nd-degree murder of Toronto mother testifies in his own defence
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Man who admitted to dangerous driving on Gardiner leading to deadly crash facing prison
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Lawyers argue over potential demotion for Toronto Police Superintendent Stacy Clarke
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Three friends of Dallas Ly testified at his 2nd-degree murder trial
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Fresh details emerge about deadly, wrong-way collision on Ontario’s Highway 401
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SIU called in after fatal police pursuit involving death of infant, grandparents on Highway 401
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Murder trial begins for Leslieville man accused of stabbing, decapitating own mother 2022
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An 11-year-old boy remains in critical condition after he was struck by a tractor trailer in Rexdale
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Toronto Police homicide squad investigating after man allegedly pushed off balcony to death
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Toronto Police Chief has clarified his comments about “hoping for a different outcome” after the Umar Zameer verdict
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Some question why Umar Zameer case proceeded to trial
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Jury finds Umar Zameer ‘not guilty’ after 5-week trial for 1st-degree murder
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Jury continues to deliberate the fate of man charged with killing Toronto cop
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Family speaks during sentencing hearing for Toronto drunk driver
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Closing arguments at the trial for man charged with first-degree murder of Toronto cop
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First-degree murder trial for Brampton man accused of setting a fire that killed his mother-in-law and nearly 5 others coming to a close
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The body of a 14-year-old boy was pulled from Lake Ontario off Woodbine Beach Monday morning
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The defence has finished presenting its evidence at the trial for Umar Zameer
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Man accused of running over Toronto police officer apologizes in court
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Umar Zameer has begun testifying in his own defence at his first degree murder trial
Author Archives
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Ontario man on trial for killing his mother takes the stand: ‘I lost it’Dallas Ly of Toronto told the court how, since the age of six, his mother Tien Le had been physically abusive towards him when he got poor grades at school or misbehaved.CrimeMay 8
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Daughter of woman killed in Gardiner crash: ‘I don’t understand the recklessness of it’A 33-year-old Toronto man pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death of a woman and dangerous driving causing bodily harm to her husband in March.CrimeMay 7
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Penalty hearing underway for Toronto police superintendent over cheating scandalA Toronto police prosecutor told a tribunal Monday an appropriate penalty for Supt. Stacy Clarke, who admitted to a 2021 promotional cheating scandal, would be a two-rank demotion.CrimeMay 6
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Mother’s decapitated body found in garbage bag, Toronto murder trial hearsDallas Ly sat quietly Monday as assistant Crown attorney Jay Spare told the jury that it is an admitted fact that he stabbed his mother Thanh 'Tien' Ly and caused her death.CrimeApr 29
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Toronto man given conditional sentence for fatal hit-and-runAt a sentencing hearing Thursday, the man told the court that he regretted leaving the scene after striking a pedestrian around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 26, 2021.CrimeApr 25
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Toronto police chief backtracks on comment after Umar Zameer verdictToronto's chief of police, Myron Demkiw, deflected criticism Tuesday regarding a controversial comment he made outside the Superior Courthouse Sunday.CrimeApr 23
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‘Sad human being’: Toronto mother faces speeding drunk driver who killed sonGregory Girgis was walking in downtown Toronto almost two years ago when he was fatally struck by an impaired driver who a red light and collided with two cars.CrimeApr 18
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Trial for Brampton, Ont. man accused in deadly 2020 fire nears its endFirst-degree murder trial for Brampton man accused of setting a fire that killed his mother-in-law and nearly five others is coming to a close.CrimeApr 16
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Toronto taxi scammer gets prison time after dragging victim who confronted himShubham Joshi pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, and possession of stolen property in the 2022 incident.CrimeMar 18
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Man opens restaurant on anniversary of arson fire in Toronto that upended his lifeWhen Adam Ward's home was destroyed in a deliberate fire, he felt lost. But his passion for pizza saved him and, six years later, he's opening his own restaurant.CrimeMar 7
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‘Your free life is done’: Victim’s family tells cold-case killer at Toronto sentencing'You murdered and assaulted two wonderful women and went on to live your life. Your free life is done,' said a family member to the convicted killer a 1983 cold case.CrimeMar 4
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Toronto family ‘exasperated’ after Jeep stolen 3 times in less than 2 yearsA family is feeling uneasy about living in midtown Toronto after their family Jeep was stolen for the third time in less than two years last week.CrimeFeb 26
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Video showing vicious beating outside Toronto school viewed at manslaughter trialVideo footage of the brutal attack outside of Victoria Park CI was shown in the courtroom during closing arguments at the manslaughter trial for Ahmed Rafin.CanadaFeb 22
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‘I wish I could trade my life with his,’ says Toronto man on trial for stabbing Victoria Park CI studentBreaking down in tears on the stand in a Toronto courtroom Tuesday, Ahmed Rafin testified that the day his friend was fatally stabbed, he went to protect him.CanadaFeb 20
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Ontario man tells court he was ‘foolish’ to drive drunk in case of injured workerA construction worker was severely injured in the incident, with the victim telling an Ontario sentencing hearing Friday about the physical pain he's been forced to endure.CrimeFeb 16
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‘They should be named’: Ontario family speaks after mother, baby murdered in homeRommelia Asuncion and her baby girl were found in the basement apartment of the home they rented in Richmond Hill, Ont. on Feb. 1 in what was an apparent double murder suicide.CrimeFeb 13
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Trial begins for Aurora, Ont. man accused of killing wife of 35 yearsThe trial has begun for an Aurora man who is on trial for the second-degree murder of his wife of nearly 35 years, Helen Sedo, whose body has never been found.CrimeFeb 12
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Brothers from India among 3 killed in Brampton crash, possibly linked to street racingThe two brothers and one of their friends died in the crash. Police say they believe the deadly incident could be linked to street racing.CrimeFeb 9
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Sentencing hearing begins for Toronto woman fatally shot by roommate in 2021The family of Leah St. Jean has waited three years for justice, after the 32-year-old was found dead in the North York apartment she shared with two friends.CrimeFeb 5
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International student shot during confrontation in Toronto speaks outToronto police spokesperson Const. Laurie McCann tells Global News the investigation into the shooting remains very active and they are looking for multiple suspects.CrimeJan 23
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‘A bad dream’: Family of murdered construction worker speaks at sentencing hearingIt was an emotional day in a courtroom, as family and friends of murdered construction worker Floreano Lopes gave victim impact statements at his killer’s sentencing hearing.CrimeJan 22
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Former head of Toronto police homicide squad joins Global News as commentatorAfter a 34-year with the Toronto Police Service, Hank Idsinga will be joining Global News to bring his deep knowledge to the network's coverage of crime in the and around the city.CrimeJan 15
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Officer failed to de-escalate, used unnecessary force in Toronto shooting: reportA new report has findings that a Toronto police officer used unnecessary force in an interaction in 2023 that led to the shooting of a Black man in a parkette in the city.CrimeJan 11
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2 young brothers dead after mother falls from Scarborough apartment balconyToronto police say two young brothers, aged 5 and 4, have died after they were found with no vital signs in an apartment building in Scarborough on Sunday night.CanadaDec 11, 2023
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Victim of Toronto gun crime recalls terrifying shooting: ‘I had been struck’Stacy Da Silva read out an emotional victim impact statement on Day 1 of the sentencing hearing for CJay Hobbs, the getaway driver in a murder trial.CrimeDec 7, 2023