本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Jul. 28, 2005. 02:26 PM
Officer guilty of beating Somali man
Incident caught on videotape showed police officer striking man
BETSY POWELL
STAFF REPORTER
Toronto police constable Roy Preston used “excessive force” when he punched a 22-year-old man in the face two years ago during a late-night fracas outside a west-end donut shop, an Ontario Court of Justice judge ruled today in finding the officer guilty of assault.
“I am very pleased for what happened here,” Said Jama Jama, the man who was punched, said this morning after Judge Peter Wilkie read his judgment in a Brampton courtroom.
“I’m glad that the judge believed my words…If I didn’t have the video, then things would be in a different situation.”
The videotaped beating occurred after a fight broke out in a parking lot.
Jama Jama, who was 21 at the time, said he was trying to break up the scuffle when police arrived.
An amateur videotape shot by Ottawa tourists showed Preston punching Jama Jama in the face without warning.
Jama Jama was initially charged with assaulting police and causing a disturbance, but those charges were later dropped after a Crown lawyer reviewed the video.
Jama Jama's lawyer had said his client could have been deported had he been convicted.<
The Somalia-born Jama Jama said he was “very disappointed” he was unable to get into the courtroom this morning to hear the verdict.
“I thought I got here on time but they closed the door in my face.” The small courtroom was packed with police officers, many from Preston's 23 Division in Etobicoke.
The videotape footage of what happened was played in court, which Wilkie cited repeatedly in his ruling.
He also had scathing criticism for Preston, who he said gave “unreliable” and “fabricated evidence,” while calling Jama Jama an “honest and credible” witness.
Wilkie was also critical of other officers involved in the arrest, saying he found their testimony to be unreliable.
Photos of Jama Jama after the incident showed he had a bruised and bloodied face, fat lip and was missing a tooth — injuries that weren't present at the start of the video.
Police at the scene said in their notes that Jama Jama attempted to strike an officer, though none of them mentioned that an officer punched Jama Jama.
Preston, who had two years experience at the time of the assault, was whisked away from reporters and cameras.
A date for sentencing will be discussed next Friday. Penalties for assault convictions can range from discharges to jail time.
Preston’s lawyer, J.J. Burke, declined to comment. Preston was whisked away from reporters and cameras.
With files from Canadian Press更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Officer guilty of beating Somali man
Incident caught on videotape showed police officer striking man
BETSY POWELL
STAFF REPORTER
Toronto police constable Roy Preston used “excessive force” when he punched a 22-year-old man in the face two years ago during a late-night fracas outside a west-end donut shop, an Ontario Court of Justice judge ruled today in finding the officer guilty of assault.
“I am very pleased for what happened here,” Said Jama Jama, the man who was punched, said this morning after Judge Peter Wilkie read his judgment in a Brampton courtroom.
“I’m glad that the judge believed my words…If I didn’t have the video, then things would be in a different situation.”
The videotaped beating occurred after a fight broke out in a parking lot.
Jama Jama, who was 21 at the time, said he was trying to break up the scuffle when police arrived.
An amateur videotape shot by Ottawa tourists showed Preston punching Jama Jama in the face without warning.
Jama Jama was initially charged with assaulting police and causing a disturbance, but those charges were later dropped after a Crown lawyer reviewed the video.
Jama Jama's lawyer had said his client could have been deported had he been convicted.<
The Somalia-born Jama Jama said he was “very disappointed” he was unable to get into the courtroom this morning to hear the verdict.
“I thought I got here on time but they closed the door in my face.” The small courtroom was packed with police officers, many from Preston's 23 Division in Etobicoke.
The videotape footage of what happened was played in court, which Wilkie cited repeatedly in his ruling.
He also had scathing criticism for Preston, who he said gave “unreliable” and “fabricated evidence,” while calling Jama Jama an “honest and credible” witness.
Wilkie was also critical of other officers involved in the arrest, saying he found their testimony to be unreliable.
Photos of Jama Jama after the incident showed he had a bruised and bloodied face, fat lip and was missing a tooth — injuries that weren't present at the start of the video.
Police at the scene said in their notes that Jama Jama attempted to strike an officer, though none of them mentioned that an officer punched Jama Jama.
Preston, who had two years experience at the time of the assault, was whisked away from reporters and cameras.
A date for sentencing will be discussed next Friday. Penalties for assault convictions can range from discharges to jail time.
Preston’s lawyer, J.J. Burke, declined to comment. Preston was whisked away from reporters and cameras.
With files from Canadian Press更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net