"To Abdirahman Abdi's family, loved ones and his community, I'm sorry," he wrote.

The plaque symbolized an “awakening,” calling on the community to stand united for justice. "sameAs": [ Daniel Montsion, who had pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in the death of Abdirahman Abdi.

Daniel Montsion has been found not guilty of manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon for the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi. I first wrote about my connection to this story three years ago to mark the one-year anniversary of Abdirahman’s death. The Crown also conceded they were purchased by Montsion's supervisor.Abdi's death has drawn national attention and led to the formation of the Justice for Abdirahman coalition, which has pushed for changes to the policing and justice systems in Ottawa and Ontario.Montsion's lawyers expect he'll go back to workMinutes after the decision , Montsion's defence lawyers Michael Edelson and Solomon Friedman spoke to the media outside the Ottawa courthouse entrance on Elgin Street. The Ontario NDP was swift to react to Montsion's acquittal. It was not an easy apology to accept by either the family or those who felt the sting of racism that Tracey’s initial comments conjured. Ottawa police Const. Mr Montsion was one of two Ottawa police officers involved in the arrest. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS), Community members pray in memory of Abdirahman Abdi as the rally blocks the intersection in front of Parliament Hill, after an Ottawa Police constable was found not guilty of manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in connection with the 2016 death of Abdi, a 37-year old Black man, in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. The incident revolves around the attempted arrest of Abdirahman Abdi, an immigrant from Somalia who died a day after Montsion and a number of other officers attempted to arrest him. He came to this country seeking freedom and safety. Prosecutors also argued that the force which Montsion employed in the arrest was “disproportionate, unreasonable and unnecessary.". ] The NDP called for an urgent reimagining of policing in the province, including investments in mental health support and diverting police spending from "military-grade hardware" to community services.

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There was ‘no brutal beating’ of Abdirahman Abdi, and a nose fracture was the only serious injury Abdi suffered, said Michael Edelson, a defence lawyer for Ottawa police Const. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. "logo": "https://worldnewsn.s3.amazonaws.com/media/images/Florida-Breaking-News-logo_4.png", Prosecutors argued that they should be considered weapons, but Mr Montsion's defence team said they were standard issue for police and meant for the user's protection. • On July 24, 2017, our coalition, along with local politicians and community members, unveiled a plaque at 55 Hilda St. in Hintonburg just above the steps where Abdirahman lost his life. Last month, George Strathy, Chief Justice of Ontario, in the official opening of the courts, said: “the prevalence and perseverance of anti-black racism has been laid bare …. Montsion Not Guilty on all Charges in Death of Abdirahman Abdi Full Details. Crown prosecutors argued that Montsion's punches to Abdi's head "accelerated" his death, and that the reinforced gloves Montsion was wearing counted as a deadly weapon in this situation. uOttawa defends prof who used racist slur in class, Morning Rush: Confidence Vote Could Be Coming, Ontario premier denounces reports of violence at Queen’s Park anti-mask rally, Ottawa police officer Daniel Montsion found not guilty on all charges in death of Abdirahman Abdi. The suit seeks $1.5 million in compensation. Ottawa Police Const. While the criminal case was supposed to conclude earlier this year, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic lead to the trial being completed virtually. The verdict was also delivered via a Zoom webinar. He had pleaded not guilty. I do not know how people will react to Tuesday's verdict in the manslaughter trial of Ottawa Const. Abdi fled on foot, a chase that ended in a confrontation with police a few blocks away. Before July 26, 2016, he had never had a scratch on his body. The high-profile Ottawa case, and subsequent charges against a policeman, sparked protests and a debate about policing and race in the city. Whatever the outcome, the feelings of these past four years, layer upon layer, run deep.

It faced numerous delays due to questions over evidence and, later, the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected courtrooms in Ontario. The question then is, how do people react to a system of justice that they feel denies them justice and only offers a lack of accountability rather than balance and fairness? He declined to comment to reporters and instead asked family lawyer Lawrence Greenspon to speak on the family's behalf.

My answer: I do not know. My statement on behalf of the Ottawa Police Services Board on today's verdict. He was subsequently charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault, and assault with a weapon.

"Abdirahman Abdi should still be with us. In June, the Ottawa Police Services Board approved a motion calling on the police service to create a more equitable and inclusive service for its members and the community.

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The incident revolves around the attempted arrest of Abdirahman Abdi, an immigrant from Somalia who died a day after Montsion and a number of other officers attempted to arrest him. © 2020 Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Digital Multi-Skilled Journalist, Stefan Keyes "The family is devastated by the decision," said Greenspon, nodding to them coming to Canada from Somalia years before Abdi's death. Abdi ran away and Weir pursued him down the street, using pepper spray and striking him with his baton. Ontario court judge Robert Kelly ruled that while it was "likely" that Montsion's punches to the nose of Abdi caused his death, the causal link between the two could not be established beyond reasonable doubt, according to the Ottawa Citizen. She said to me: “We are all humans.

Daniel Montsion has been found not guilty of manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in connection with the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi.Abdi, a 37-year-old Black man, died following a confrontation with Ottawa police on July 24, 2016. "The crown has not discharged its onus of proving beyond a reasonable doubt an unlawful act or unreasonable conduct for manslaughter or an unjustified assault to ground liability on the other two charges," Justice Kelly said. The establishment media is increasingly Please try again. Farhia Ahmed is a human rights advocate and outgoing chair of the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition. Witness video shot after the confrontation with police and posted on YouTube shows Abdi handcuffed and bleeding on the ground. An Ottawa Police Constable was found not guilty after being charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in 2016. CTV News Ottawa Anchor, Weekend News, Katie Griffin

Today we have no demands for the system, and the system did not fail us, it was not built for us," she said. I was reminded of this on a phone call with Abdirahman’s mother when I asked her if she would accept Tracey’s apology. Montsion arrived at the scene and, in the ensuing melee, punched Abdi several times in the head while wearing reinforced or "plated" gloves. Arguments over force, cause of death (Lauren Foster-McLeod), People stand on Elgin Street during a rally after an Ottawa Police constable was found not guilty of manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in connection with the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi, a 37-year old Black man, in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. Abdi, a 37-year-old Black man, died following a confrontation with Ottawa police on July 24, 2016. Montsion has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in relation to the fatal arrest of Abdirahman Abdi nearly four years ago. “No one can ever accept the loss of life in a situation like this – especially of a vulnerable citizen experiencing a mental health crisis,” the statement said. "In the end, I am left with a reasonable doubt on each of the three main issues.". But I know our feelings, layer upon layer, run deep. If Montsion is free to walk with no convictions, I do not know what that reaction will be of a community that has endured historic and systemic racism. "Indigenous Peoples, Black and other racialized populations in Ottawa have been, and continue to be, disproportionately the victims of violence, racist graffiti, racial slurs, excluded from activities and employment opportunities and discriminated against in the workplace," Watson said. Should police be dealing with mental health crises?

These duelling campaigns caused a further divide that increased tensions in the community. Dave Weir, toward his apartment building at 55 Hilda St. Weir had attempted to subdue Abdi with his baton and with pepper spray before Montsion arrived.

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