What years of court docs reveal about the Vaughan shooting

Plus, the teen girls behind a Toronto murder and Toronto parents' $10-a-day child-care woes  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

First Up   By Manuela Vega   Good morning. Here’s the latest on the Vaughan massacre, the teens charged in the murder of a homeless man and the $10/day child care program in Toronto.       DON’T MISS Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey   vaughan mass murder How years of litigation, abuse and harassment ended with mass murder inside a Vaughan condo tower “We need the court’s help in getting Mr. Villi to stop his campaign of abuse and harassment,” wrote John Di Nino, a condo board member at Bellaria Residences, about a resident in an affidavit filed with the court earlier this year. So far, “nothing has worked,” he continued. On Sunday, the legal battle would end with Francesco Villi murdering five people — three board members and two of their family members, Betsy Powell reports. Di Nino’s wife wound up in hospital with a gunshot wound, and police killed the gunman. A collection of court records offers a thorough account of Villi’s state of mind and his baseless allegations that his victims were out to get him — highlighting the court’s inability to stop a serial harasser in his tracks. Here’s what records reveal about the years leading up to the Vaughan mass murder. More: In 2017, Villi told a front desk worker that he was “coming to a point where (he would) soon be walking around with a baseball bat,” one document says. The aftermath: The victims were honoured with candlelight vigil Wednesday night. Go deeper: Here’s what we know about the victims and how their loved ones are remembering them. Word from a resident: I research mass shootings, but I never believed one would happen in my own condo.   File Photo   crime The teens who allegedly stabbed a homeless man may have been involved in other violent incidents that night Eight girls aged 13 to 16 remain in custody after being arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to the “swarming” and stabbing attack that killed a 59-year-old Toronto man near Union Station on Saturday, Betsy Powell reports. Police believe the teens were trying to steal a bottle of alcohol from the victim’s girlfriend before they became violent, and that they were involved in at least two other swarming incidents that night, the Star has learned from a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation but not authorized to speak publicly. Take a closer look at the timeline of attacks that the source illustrated. More: The teens’ identities are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Police have not released the identity of the victim. Watch for: ​​The girls have appeared in court but have not been convicted of any offences related to last weekend. They are scheduled to reappear in court on Dec. 29.   Steve Russell/The Star   child care Toronto parents are less likely to see reduced daycare fees than almost anywhere else in Ontario Although 92 per cent of Ontario’s licensed daycares have joined the national, $10-a-day daycare program, the participation rate in Toronto is lagging behind at only 84 per cent, a Star analysis of municipal child-care data has found. In the city with the highest child-care costs in Canada, it’s for-profit daycares that are driving down the participation rate, with only 67 per cent of them opting in, Brendan Kennedy and Rachel Mendleson report. Is it time for Ontario to stop appeasing for-profit providers? Experts and advocates make the case. By the numbers: The federal program recently reduced parent fees by 25 per cent and aims to eventually cut them to an average of $10-a-day by 2026. More numbers: Parents whose daycares chose not to participate are still paying market rates. In Toronto, the median monthly fees are $1,948 for infants, $1,615 for toddlers and $1,300 for preschoolers, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. ICYMI: Here’s how intense pressure from for-profit daycares has transformed Ontario’s rollout of $10-a-day child care and sparked a political standoff.       WHAT ELSE   Who brought a Nazi flag to the so-called “Freedom Convoy”? The Convoy lawyer is being sued after pointing the finger.   Jim Carr’s three friends knew he was dying, but they were still shocked when he missed their last phone call. John Tory says he’s open to a review of the minority-rule powers he’s “highly unlikely” to use. Could Doug Ford give the powers an expiry date?    Canadian workers could see up to $305 less on their annual pay starting in two weeks. Here’s what else you need to know about payroll tax changes. The first stage of Canada’s plastics ban is now in place. Here’s how it affects you.   Parents are threatening a court battle over the Halton teacher dress code controversy. Inflation fell slightly in November, but food prices continued to soar.   Canada’s relentless inflation could come to a screeching halt — here’s the likelier scenario. Industry interests are being placed before science-based protocols — the fight over the indefensible Greenbelt land grab is not over, Sarah Harmer writes.   The Taliban has banned women and girls from university — sparking private anguish and public protests. Considering uprooting your life to Alberta? This two-bedroom condo in Mississauga might make you think twice.   Looking to buy a new car? Here’s why you may have to wait up to two years to get it.       POV Chloe Cushman Illustration Over 20 years ago, I was a mental health in-patient. People deserve a chance at healing before being offered MAID.       CLOSE-UP Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press   WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress. Behind him are Vice-President Kamala Harris, left, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Ukraine is “alive and kicking” against all odds, he said. Here’s a closer look at his emotional speech.     Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@thestar.ca. I’ll see you back here tomorrow.     If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. 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