Jury Finds Officer Guilty of Attempted Murder in Yatim Shooting Death

Today, the jury delivered a guilty verdict in the trial of James Forcillo in the death of Sammy Yatim.  Forcillo was found guilty of attempted murder, and not guilty of  second degree murder or manslaughter.  Sammy was shot eight times by Constable Forcillo on July 27, 2013 while confined within a TTC streetcar and surrounded by numerous Toronto police officers.  The jury rejected Constable Forcillo’s testimony that Sammy presented a real threat to the officer at the time that he discharged his weapon a further six times while Sammy lay mortally wounded on the floor of the streetcar.  The jury was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Constable Forcillo was guilty of murder.

Falconers LLP represents the mother and sister of Sammy Yatim, Sahar Bahadi and Sarah Yatim, in an $8 million lawsuit against the police.  The action was issued on October 11, 2013 against Cst. Forcillo and the Toronto Police Service.

On August 30, 2013, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair appointed Frank Iacobucci to lead the review of the Toronto Police Services’ use of force policies.  Justice Iacobucci issued his Report in July of 2014.

Press Release and Statement

Press Release   January 25, 2016
Statement of Dr. Sahar Bahadi   January 25, 2016

Related Documents

Police Encounters with People in Crisis – Justice Iacobucci’s Report  July, 2014
Statement of Claim  October 11, 2013
Statement of Defence of James Forcillo  August 22, 2014
Statement of Defence of TPSB   August 22, 2014

Video

Julian Falconer speaks out about the Forcillo verdict   January 25, 2016

In the News

Julian Falconer:  Seeking justice for Sammy Yatim   Canadian Jewish News, January 29, 2016
‘It was the right thing to do,’ says man who put Sammy Yatim shooting video on YouTube   Toronto Daily Mail, January 29, 2016
What’s changed since Sammy Yatim died   Toronto Star, January 29, 2016

Forcillo makes it home   NOW, January 27, 2016

Sammy Yatim’s family relieved over verdict   24 Hours, January 26, 2016
Judgement Day – Forcillo to appeal guilty verdict in death of Sammy Yatim   24 Hours, January 26, 2016
Sammy Yatim shooting witness felt responsibility to share video   CBC, January 26, 2016

Forcillo guilty of attempted murder in shooting death of Sammy Yatim   Toronto Star, January 25, 2016
Prosecution’s strategy to get conviction worked   The Globe and Mail, January 25, 2016
Yatim’s dad ‘relieved’ by Forcillo verdict   Toronto Sun, January 25, 2016
Toronto police officer found guilty of attempted murder  Daily Mail, January 25, 2016
Toronto police officer guilty in shooting death of teen in rare court decision   The Guardian, January 25, 2016
James Forcillo guilty of attempted murder in streetcar shooting of Sammy Yatim   CBC, January 25, 2016
What justice there is in James Forcillo verdict, we owe to video- Keenan   Toronto Star, January 25, 2016
Sammy Yatim: Toronto cop guilty of attempted murder in streetcar shooting   Global News, January 25, 2016

Click here to read more about the civil lawsuit.

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