TORONTO — The mother of a Toronto teen killed by a police officer says nothing can compensate her for the loss of her son.
And following today’s verdict of guilty on a charge attempted murder against Constable James Forcillo, Sahar Bahadi says nothing will bring him back to her.
Eighteen-year-old Sammy Yatim was fatally shot on an empty streetcar in July of 2013 when Forcillo fired three shots and then another six — eight of which hit the troubled teen.
The 11-member jury cleared Forcillo of the more serious charge of second-degree murder.
Forcillo’s lawyer Peter Brauti says the defence will try to have the proceedings stayed before a conviction is registered.
Brauti says Forcillo substantially followed the police training he was given and so if the state gave him that training, it should not be entitled to a conviction.
If that fails the defence will consider an appeal of what Brauti calls a “trial by YouTube,” because video of the shooting was posted minutes after it happened.
He says public opinion was tainted against his client from the start.
Some lawyers who followed the case say it appears jurors found the first round of three shots was fired in self-defence, but that the second volley of six shots was unjustified.
