Newmarket man charged in death of two-year-old son to appear in court

WATCH ABOVE: Friends of the accused showed up at court in support Mario Wint today. Catherine McDonald reports. 

TORONTO – Friends of a Newmarket father charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 2-year-old son say the man they knew could not harm a soul.

“Mario was a great father. He’s awesome. He’s just excited. He loved his kids,” said Nayomie Little outside a Newmarket courthouse Wednesday where the accused was scheduled to make an appearance.

“They were well behaved. They didn’t have any sign of distress. Nothing. They were well fed and well taken care of.”

Officers found the child not breathing at a home on Longford Drive in the afternoon of Thursday Jan. 22.

The boy was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The accused was arrested on Saturday and made an initial court appearance on Sunday. The child’s father, 29-year-old Mario Wint, has since been charged with second-degree murder.

Investigators have not yet released the child’s cause of death.

Family friends say Wint was a good father who just recently received full custody of his two children.

“It was a long lengthy fight with CAS to try and get the boys back and he finally got them back before Christmas,” Pat Woods told reporters outside the Newmarket courthouse Wednesday.

“I don’t believe he did this for a second. I have grand kids. I’ve hung out with him and his kids. I was with him two days before this happened.”

A Facebook group has since been created with more than 1,000 members called “Supporter’s for Amazing Father, Mario Wint. “A Fight For Justice”“.