National

Sentencing Hearing For Toronto Cop Who Shot Teen On Streetcar Continues Today

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 May, 2016 11:50 AM

TORONTO — The sentencing hearing for a Toronto police officer convicted of attempted murder in the shooting death of a teenager in a streetcar continues today.

Const. James Forcillo's lawyer argued on Wednesday that the injuries Sammy Yatim, 18, suffered from a second round of bullets should not be a significant aggravating factor in determining the officer's sentence.

Yatim's mother broke into tears and rushed out of the courtroom as lawyer Peter Brauti said her son was already dying from wounds caused by the first volley of bullets legally fired by Forcillo.

Justice Edward Then, who will decide Forcillo's sentence, noted that there was still "substantial harm" caused to Yatim from the second volley of six bullets fired by Forcillo.

Brauti is seeking a sentence of house arrest for Forcillo while Crown prosecutors have asked for a prison term of between eight to ten years.

In July 2013, Forcillo fired two separate volleys — three shots and then six shots — at Yatim, who had consumed ecstasy and was wielding a small knife on an empty streetcar.

A jury acquitted Forcillo of second-degree murder in the Yatim's death, but found the officer guilty of attempted murder for continuing to fire after the dying teen had fallen to the floor.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Tom Mulcair Returns To The Commons After Emotional, Divisive Convention

Mulcair plans to remain at the helm of the NDP until a successor is chosen, up to two years from now.

Tom Mulcair Returns To The Commons After Emotional, Divisive Convention

Loonie Soars To Highest Level In Half A Year As Crude Prices Climb Above US$40

The trading week started Monday with a bang, as the Canadian dollar soared to its highest level in half a year on the back of rising crude and gold prices.

Loonie Soars To Highest Level In Half A Year As Crude Prices Climb Above US$40

Police Break Up Suicide Pact Of 13 Young People In Attawapiskat, Ont.

An aboriginal official in northern Ontario says a nine-year-old child and 12 other youths were overheard making a suicide pact Monday on a remote First Nation mired in a suicide crisis.

Police Break Up Suicide Pact Of 13 Young People In Attawapiskat, Ont.

Labour Groups Lobby Alberta For Universal Early Childhood Education Program

EDMONTON — Labour groups are lobbying Alberta's NDP government to set up universal early childhood education and child care.

Labour Groups Lobby Alberta For Universal Early Childhood Education Program

Parents Of Autistic Kids Demand Ontario Not Cut Five-year-old Kids Off Wait List

TORONTO — Dozens of parents of children with autism are at the Ontario legislature today demanding the government reverse a decision to defund intensive therapy for children five and older.

Parents Of Autistic Kids Demand Ontario Not Cut Five-year-old Kids Off Wait List

Final Cost Of 2015 Alberta Election Almost $19m: Chief Electoral Officer

He said costs went up due in part to Alberta's 10 per cent population increase and because then-premier Jim Prentice decided to drop the writ a year early.