Paramedics in fatal-shooting case fired, union says

TORONTO — Two Hamilton paramedics accused of failing to respond properly to a dying teenager’s pleas for help have been fired, their union said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the president of their local said the city had informed Chris Marchant and Steve Snively of their firing effective immediately — a week after they were charged with failure to provide the necessaries of life.

“This harsh and unjust action will be grieved by the union in an effort right this wrong,” said Mario Posteraro, head of OPSEU Local 256.

“This latest action sends a disappointing and unfortunate message to the City of Hamilton’s paramedics and all paramedics provincially that bad patient outcomes may not only result in criminal charges, but now, termination of employment as well.”

Marchant, 29, and Snively, 53, were released after their arrests and are set to appear in court in September.

The case arose after Yosif Al-Hasnawi, 19, was shot while trying to help an older man, who was accosted outside his mosque by two other men in December 2017.

Witnesses alleged the responding paramedics accused Al-Hasnawi of exaggerating the extent of his injuries and took too long to treat him and take him to hospital.

Hamilton police charged one man with second-degree murder and another with accessory after the fact shortly after the incident. Niagara regional police were then called in to investigate the way paramedics handled the case.