Dr. Stephen Patrick Kirby, 37, died from head injuries after being knocked to the ground and kicked in the head on February 26, 1994.
Rendell Junior Gillette, 21, was charged with second-degree murder after Kirby died at St. Mike’s Hospital on March 5, days after the assault. Randall Scott Leach, 24, of no fixed address, also faced numerous charges including being an accessory after the fact.
Reports indicated that Kirby was involved in a “minor altercation” with another man inside a Yonge Street and St. Joseph Street bar shortly before the attack at about 5:30 a.m.
Gillette, who said he is heterosexual, blamed Kirby for making a pass at him and grabbing his bum and then making racist comments when he was rejected. Gillette did not explain why he was in the gay bar. After attacking Kirby, Gillette spat on him.
Gillette, who has a criminal record, was arrested in an Oshawa motel on March 3.
Both prosecution and defense counsel agreed Gillette had not intended to kill Kirby, and blamed Kirby, stating in an agreed statement of fact that “by his words and conduct, [he] provoked the fight.” Kirby, a bisexual man, was known in the after-hours club as “an obnoxious drunk who often caused problems for other patrons and, on occasion, had to be asked to leave.”
On September 2, 1994, Gillette pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, and was sentenced to five years in prison.
In 1999, Gillette skipped parole. Correctional Services Canada released his name, along with 34 other escaped killers’ names, on January 12, 1999.
Murder Village Map
Vital Statistics
Name: Dr. Stephen Patrick Kirby
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Date of Death: March 5, 1994
Manner of Death: Blunt Force Trauma
Location: Yonge and St. Joseph Street area
Suspect Name: Rendell Junior Gillette
Conviction & Sentence: Manslaughter, 5 years
Stephen was my friend. And he was an angel to me and many of my friends. Purely, by being himself, he made many feel loved and cared for. It was simple..it was love. It has been 37 years since we lost Stephen. The magnitude of losing him is not diminished…he was beautiful.
The “suspect” was older than me and went to the same high school in Uxbridge in the 90’s. I remember some of the teachers being shocked upon hearing the news. Sorry to hear about your loss.
Dr. Kirby was my physician when I was a student at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto. A lot of us went to see him. I always found him to be very kind. He would save samples of medicines for students who didn’t have money for meds while at university. We had a special mass for him at the College when he died and everyone spoke of how kind he was. He treated a lot of AIDS patients too in the days when not many would. So a good person was taken from the world and I don’t feel this article accurately reflects who he was at all.
Thank you for your kind remembrance of Dr. Kirby. The articles here can never fully reflect the fullness of a victim’s life. But your comment shines a light, and it means a lot coming from someone who knew him. Again, thank you.
Dr Kirby was my MD just prior to his death when he practiced in St. Catharines although many years ago, i still recall his kindness and sincereity a horrendous crime.
Thank you for your words and thoughts on Dr. Kirby. You are right, it was a horrendous crime.
Stephen was a dear friend of mine for many years. We moved to Toronto together in 1991 shortly after our trip to England. We spent a month in London seee his family, visiting the Tower of London, The River Thames and many of the disco bars and pubs. Stephen was a generous man. I remember him funding the tuition for a waiter in the Keg in Stcatharines. He wanted to be a Dr Stephen paid his first four yrs of tuition.
Stephen could be boisterous and loud at times but it was all a front. He was kind caring and exceptionally intelligent man. He lived life to the fullest, with expensive cars clothes and furs.
I miss you buddy.
Xo
He sounds like a great guy. Sorry for your loss.
Dr Kirby was an amazing doctor and person! As his patient in St Catharines, I always found him to be very kind and genuinely interested in the person, not just the patient. He always spent the first few minutes of your visit asking about you and your life before asking why you were there. I was shocked and saddened by the news of his violent end. So unfair for a man who always cared about others first.