January 12, 2010
Ban lifted on dead tot's ID
By QMI Agency

A court has lifted a publication ban on the identity of two-year-old Keagan Davis. Keagan was found dead in his Oshawa home last week. Durham Regional Police have charged a 26-year-old man with second-degree murder.

A court order banning the publication of the name of a murdered two-year-old boy and the man accused of killing him was lifted Tuesday.

Keagan Davis was found in the Oshawa basement suite where he lived part-time with his mother last Tuesday.

Two days later, 26-year-old Michael Monckton surrendered to police and was charged with second-degree murder.

During Monckton's first court appearance Friday, two publication bans were imposed by Justice of the Peace Martha DeGannes.

Defense lawyer Gary McNeely asked for and was granted a ban on evidence given in court. Such a ban is standard in bail proceedings.

In a rare move, Crown attorney Lorianne Turner requested a ban on the publication of the identities of the victim and accused.


"Over the course of the weekend leading up to today, circumstances have changed," Turner told Justice of the Peace Gerald Ryan in an Oshawa courtroom this afternoon.

Officers involved in the case spoke to Keagan's parents "and they are not opposed" to his name being published, Turner said.

Also present in the courtroom was lawyer Ryder Gilliland, who was representing various media outlets, including the Toronto Sun.

"Obviously this ban should have never been issued," Gilliland said outside the courtroom.

Monckton appeared via video from Lindsay wearing a sleeveless, white shirt, with short blonde hair and a scruffy beard.

He is to appear via video again tomorrow, when he will be remanded.

McNeely said he won't be going forward with bail applications until he receives a disclosure of evidence.

CANOE.CA CNEWS