One of two men accused of killing a man on Yonge Street early in the new year has been denied bail.

Awet Zekarias is charged with the murder of John O'Keefe, who was hit by a bullet as he walked along one of the busiest streets in Toronto on Jan. 12.

The judge refused to grant Zekarias bail, saying it would diminish the public's confidence in the justice system.

Zekarias showed no emotion as Judge David McCombs read his reasons for keeping him in custody.

Zekarias, 22, is not accused of pulling the trigger. His friend and co-accused Edward Parades, 23, is alleged to have fired the gun.

But the Crown alleges Zekarias instigated the murder and that the bullet was intended to hit the bouncer who booted the two out of the Brass Rail strip club.

Instead it was O'Keefe, a 42-year-old father, who was shot shortly after 1 a.m.

The judge called it a senseless and heinous crime and said there is strong evidence, including security tapes, that point the finger at the accused.

Jennifer Allen, one of O'Keefe's close friends, said she was encouraged by the court's decision.

"He was shot on the busiest street corner in the biggest city of our country. If they allowed [Zekarias] bail what does that say? It would erode public confidence in the justice system. So that is why the decision was right," she said outside the courtroom.

Both men are also charged with the attempted murder of the bouncer.

The judge made reference to another high-profile shooting of a bystander on Yonge Street, the 2005 Boxing Day killing of Jane Creba.

The judge said these kinds of acts must be "strongly condemned."

Zekarias's lawyer, Howard Goldkind, is worried about the comparison.

Goldkind said the Creba case and the Brass Rail shooting are unrelated and should have no bearing on what happens to his client.

Parades has not made an application for bail.