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Toronto Streetcar Driver Testifies At Trial Of Cop Charged In Sammy Yatim Death

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Oct, 2015 11:08 AM

TORONTO — The trial of a Toronto police officer charged in the shooting death of a teen on an empty streetcar is hearing from the driver of the transit vehicle at the centre of the case.

Chad Seymour was the last person to speak with Sammy Yatim before the 18-year-old was confronted by Const. James Forcillo.

Forcillo has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder in Yatim's death.

The jury has heard that Seymour had a calm conversation with Yatim before police arrived in which the teen asked if the driver had a phone and said he wanted to call his father.

Last week, jurors at his trial watched videos and heard audio recordings of the confrontation that ended Yatim's life.

Yatim was standing on the streetcar holding a small knife and refused to drop it during a 50-second confrontation with Forcillo before he was shot nine times.

Crown prosecutors have said they plan to prove that Forcillo's actions during the July 2013 incident weren't necessary or reasonable.

Forcillo's lawyer has said his client's actions were justified and carried out in self-defence.

The jury has also heard that Yatim consumed the drug ecstasy before he boarded the streetcar.

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