Jury hears evolving story, startling allegations from man accused of killing best friend

Warning: Details in this article may be disturbing and triggering to some readers.

A Barrie jury heard a conflicting and evolving version of events from an Alliston man accused of first-degree murder and dumping the remains of his best friend.

Police interview videos were played for the court of Gabriel DiCecco describing what he knew about the disappearance of William Schernhammer, 24, whose remains were discovered nine days after his loved ones reported him missing following a night out with DiCecco.

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“You’re lying to me again, and again, and again,” provincial police detective Sarah Vance told DiCecco on January 21, 2024. “You do know,” said the officer who reminded the accused his mother’s car contained evidence that someone had been shot. “There’s no ‘I don’t know anymore,’” she explained. “There’s blood and bullets in her car.”

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DiCecco, 27, who is represented by experienced Toronto defence lawyers Sam Goldstein and Paul De Groot, is on trial accused of first-degree murder and committing an indignity to a dead body. He was arrested by police and remains in custody. He sat in the prisoner’s box looking on as several statements he made to investigators were played for the jury and Justice Vanessa Christie.

One of the videos was recorded Jan. 13, 2024, the day after Schernhammer disappeared. DiCecco denied knowing where Schernhammer was or what happened had to him. He told police he dropped him off that night as Schernhammer met up with an unknown woman.

“I’ve heard him in the past saying people wanted to kill him,” DiCecco told police that day.

A week later, however, police questioning intensified. “Who hurt William? You do know. He’s your friend. Somebody hurt your friend,” said the detective.

DiCecco then told police while on the side of the road that night, he and Schernhammer were approached by a masked man, dressed in black who emerged from a field who then fired three or four shots, hitting Schernhammer. DiCecco said he loaded his friend in the car and drove away. He told police he did not know who the shooter was or why his friend was shot.

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As the police interrogation continued DiCecco agreed to show police where he dumped his friend’s body and said he later tossed Schernhammer’s cell phone from a bridge. “It could be around that corner too. I am not exactly sure,” DiCecco told the officer of the location in town where he believed he left his friend’s remains. The drive with the detective was audio recorded prior to DiCecco being placed under arrest.

“Did you find the body?” he asked her. “Yes, she replied,” telling DiCecco the discovery would help bring closure to Schernhammer’s family.

DiCecco made several conflicting and puzzling statements during his interviews with police. He unexpectedly claimed to one detective that he had been sexually violated by Schernhammer years ago. The allegations, police said, were unfounded. DiCecco said he came forward to police about a decade ago and argued officers did not properly investigate the allegations.

“He raped me,” DiCecco claimed. “I took sleeping pills to sleep, and I guess they were really strong, and I woke up and [Schernhammer] was raping me.”

DiCecco had been driving his mother’s car that night. The Hyundai Santa Fe, the court heard, was found to have several bullet holes through the front passenger door, blood on the passenger seat and a cigarette.

The four-week trial is scheduled to continue Tuesday.