Bajkor murder trial coming up

Jury selection will soon begin for the trial of two men accused in the killing of Hamilton man James Bajkor.

In the two years since the shooting death of James Bajkor, this street looks much the same. It was just after 6pm on Victoria Day that James Bajkor, an innocent bystander, was shot while working on the house he owned at 16 milton ave…

Now, two years later, and with just days until the trial, James’ mother wants us to remember the motivated kid who didn’t get a chance: “Right near the end it was like ok, going to school he wanted to buy another house, he was fixing that house, and it was like, and then bang. It was all over. It was all over.”

Sharon O’Hearn has had time to reflect since her sons death. James Bajkor was a hard working college student who owned a rental property at just 22-years old. Sharon admired his ambition, but it came with a harsh lesson: “Be in the moment, because you just never know, you know? you never know.”

Bajkor’s life ended in brutal fashion. A bystander who was shot as he worked the house that he owned on May 21st 2012. Police say the intended target was 34-year old james beals. He was also shot that day, but survived. Police say Beals was in an altercation with three other men near the house when shots ran out. Over the following days police arrested 28-year old Chris Newton, and a 16-year old boy. Police were searching for 19-year old Shaquille Collins when Collins turned himself in. All are charged with second degree murder. With the trial of Collins and Newton about to start, Bajkor’s mother is trying not to focus on the accused: “I don’t hold anything against them. They have nothing to do with me.”

She is frustrated that the legal process has prevented her from getting answers about James’ death: “So you get to a point of, ok I have to walk away. I have to go back and be sane and be myself, and just know it’s all gonna come out, somehow some way it’s all gonna come out.”

Instead she is trying to focus on the good things she remembers about her son: “His smile, his happy outlook on things, his positive outlook on life. He was polite, respectful to people.”

Jury selection begins on Monday but James father says that it is too much and he won’t attend. James’ mother says that she isn’t sure.