Damian Hudson, the man convicted of second-degree murder for the stray bullet killing of mother Karolina Huebner-Makurat in Leslieville, has filed an appeal against his verdict and life sentence. In a handwritten inmate form, Hudson, now 35, also requested that if granted a new trial, it be heard by a judge alone rather than a jury.
Details of the killing
Huebner-Makurat, 44, was struck by a stray bullet on July 7, 2023, as she walked to meet a friend for lunch on Queen Street East. The shooting occurred during a confrontation between Hudson and two rival drug dealers outside the now-closed safe injection site at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre. Hudson fired multiple shots on the busy street, and one bullet struck the mother of two in the back.
Trial and conviction
Hudson was convicted by a jury in December 2024. He had testified that he fired in self-defence, but the jury rejected that claim. His conviction for second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence. One of the rival drug dealers, Ahmed Ibrahim, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in April 2025. The third suspect remains at large.
Grounds for appeal
In his appeal, filed May 8, 2026, from the Toronto South Detention Centre, Hudson listed numerous grounds, including that Superior Court Justice Michael Brown gave misleading and incorrect instructions to the jury, leading to a miscarriage of justice. He also alleged improper admission of prejudicial evidence, improper exercise of trial management power, misapprehension of evidence, misapplication of legal standards, and misstatement of law and facts. Hudson further claimed he received ineffective assistance from his trial lawyer and is now seeking Legal Aid to fund a new attorney.
Next steps
Hudson is scheduled to appear in Superior Court later this month, where Justice Brown will determine when he becomes eligible to apply for parole. The appeal process is expected to unfold over the coming months.
