Case against paramedics charged in man’s death continues

Pair face charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life when 19-year-old was shot

A representative briefly appeared in court on behalf of two fired Hamilton paramedics charged in the death of 19-yearold Yosif Al-Hasnawi.

Steve Snively, 53, and Chris Marchant, 29, are charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.

Taylor Ormond briefly appeared Tuesday morning for defence attorney Jeffrey Manishen, who is representing both.

She declined comment outside court.

Crown attorney Joan Barrett came from Toronto for the case.

She had the prosecution’s full disclosure of evidence ready for the defence.

Al-Hasnawi was killed by a single gunshot to the abdomen on the evening of Dec. 2, 2017, after intervening when two men were harassing an older man on the street.

The encounter began on Main Street East and ended with the “Good Samaritan” being shot on Sanford Avenue South around 9 p.m.

Witnesses, including family members who were attending a religious celebration that night, have accused first responders of not taking Al-Hasnawi’s injuries seriously, including saying it was only a BB gun and telling him to get up of the sidewalk where he lay dying.

It took paramedics 38 minutes from the time they arrived on scene to go arrive at hospital.

They went to St. Joseph’s Hospital, not the closer Hamilton General Hospital — the regional trauma centre where gunshot victims are supposed to be sent.

The paramedics were charged following a lengthy probe by Niagara Regional Police, after Hamilton police asked them to investigate the paramedics’ actions.

In court Tuesday, Ormond noted two representatives from OPSEU, which has vigorously defended the unprecedented charges against the paramedics, appeared in support.

Outside court Mario Posteraro, president of OPSEU Local 256, declined comment because the case is now before the courts.

He previously described the charges as “an unprecedented legal attack against two career paramedics who continue to be blamed and shamed.”

Posteraro also said the fact that they have been fired as Hamilton paramedics is “unjust and unwarranted.”

The complex case involves several other investigations and court matters.

Dale Burningsky King is charged with second-degree murder. His preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin Oct. 14.

James Matheson is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 30 for obstruction of justice.

There is an ongoing civil suit launched by the Al-Hasnawi family, suing paramedics, police, St. Joseph’s Hospital, King and Matheson for $10 million.

Last month, Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, announced it had launched an ongoing probe into a police officer who was among the first to respond that night.

The paramedics criminal case returns to court Oct. 9.