Public Airing of Traumatic Event Trumps Concerns of Professional Witness’ Anonymity

Published on Thursday, June 21 2018, the Toronto Star’s article, Waterloo Police Officer who shot Beau Baker wants identity kept secret at coroner’s inquest‘, explains that “the police officer who fatally shot Beau Baker in Kitchener in 2015 is taking the extraordinary step of asking a court to shield his identity when he testifies at the coroner’s inquest into Baker’s death.”

When asked for comment, Julian Falconer stated, “Having acted for many families, the trauma they suffer from having a family member killed and the need for a public airing of this traumatic event frankly trumps the concerns of the professional witness. And that’s what he is, a professional witness. His profession provides him the power to take a life and our system creates a process of accountability when one takes a life.”

As mentioned, Falconers LLP has represented families in the past where deaths involving the police occurred. Currently, Falconers LLP represents Sammy Yatim’s mother, Sahar Bahadi, in her civil lawsuit against the Toronto Police and Constable Forcillo. On January 25, 2016, Constable Forcillo was found guilty, by a jury, of attempted murder in the shooting of Yatim. He shot the 18-year-old Yatim nine times, killing him, in July of 2013 on a Toronto streetcar.

In the News

Waterloo police officer who shot Beau Baker wants identity kept secret at coroner’s inquest    Toronto Star, June 21, 2018

Police keeping identity secret of officer who killed woman’s son   Toronto Star, July 4, 2016

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