Wekerle ‘away’ when teen died on his estate

Former Dragons’ Den TV personality Michael Wekerle said Wednesday that he was out of the country when an 18-yearold man died at his Caledon estate last month.

Werkerle’s nephew, 20-yearold Jonathan Weir, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his former high school classmate Tyler Swartz of Thornhill.

Swartz’s body was found at the property by Ontario Provincial Police on the evening of Dec. 27.

“I had left the country with my family prior to Christmas and have just returned,” Wekerle said in a written statement sent to the Star through a spokesperson after repeated attempts to get in touch with him.

“The news of Tyler’s passing has been a complete and devastating shock to all of us and we are heartbroken,” Wekerle continued, adding his “deepest condolences” go out to Swartz’s family and friends.

The celebrity investor’s 80hectare gated estate, just outside the historic community of Cheltenham, is listed as Weir’s residence in a court document that outlines the first-degree murder charge against him.

Weir’s lawyer, Calvin Barry, told the Star last week he wasn’t sure exactly how long his client had been living with his uncle.

Police originally charged Weir with second-degree murder, but later upgraded the charge to first-degree murder.

Barry said he will seek to have Weir released on bail at a hearing scheduled for Jan. 21 in Orangeville court. “We’re going to mount a vigorous defence,” Barry said. “He’s innocent.”

It’s not clear what the relationship of the two young men was.