Ontario’s top court upholds Forcillo conviction
Second hail of bullets ‘clearly unnecessary and excessive’
TORONTO — Ontario’s top court has dismissed the appeal of a Toronto police officer who was convicted of attempted murder in the fatal 2013 shooting of a troubled teen on an empty streetcar.
Const. James Forcillo had fired two separate volleys at Sammy Yatim, an 18-year-old who was wielding a small knife, in an incident that was caught on video and sparked public outrage.
At his 2016 trial, the Forcillo was convicted of attempted murder related to the second volley, but was acquitted of the more serious charge of second-degree murder related to the first volley.
In upholding Forcillo’s attempted-murder conviction and his six-year sentence, Ontario’s Court of Appeal found Forcillo’s second hail of bullets was “clearly unnecessary and excessive.”
“As the trial judge stated, the appellant’s conduct in firing the second volley constituted a ‘fundamental failure to understand his duty to preserve all life and not just his own,’” the appeal court ruling said.
The officer had asked the appeal court to substitute a notguilty verdict or order a new trial in his case. He also appealed his sentence, which was a year more than the mandatory minimum.
Forcillo argued the trial judge improperly excluded evidence on Yatim’s state of mind, and wrongly instructed the jury to consider the two volleys of gunfire as separate incidents.
His lawyers said the appeal court’s ruling marked a “very difficult day” for Forcillo.
“It remains our view that the appeal raised important and difficult legal questions,” Michael Lacy and Bryan Badali said in a statement. “We will carefully review the court’s decision and in consultation with our client will make a decision as to whether or not we will seek leave to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.”
Toronto police suspended Forcillo without pay after he was sentenced in 2016.
Police spokeswoman Meaghan Gray has said an internal disciplinary process — which could result in Forcillo being dismissed from the force — would begin once the appeals process is over.
Forcillo was initially out on bail pending the outcome of his appeal.
In November 2017, however, he was charged with breaching the conditions of his bail after authorities found him living at the home of his new fiancée and not with his ex-wife, as the court had instructed him.
Forcillo had his bail revoked and was later charged with perjury and attempting to obstruct justice. He is scheduled to return to court on May 4 to address procedural issues related to the newest charges.