Police officer who shot Sammy Yatim to face additional charge of attempted murder [View all]

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/29/police-officer-to-face-additional-charge-of-attempted-murder-in-shooting-death-of-sammy-yatim/



On the eve of a court appearance to set a date for trial, Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has decided to lay a new charge against Toronto police Constable James Forcillo.

According to Peter Brauti, lawyer for the 31-year-old officer accused in the shooting death last summer of teenager Sammy Yatim, Const. Forcillo Wednesday will face a new indictment for attempted murder in the death of Mr. Yatim.

The last-minute development in a case where prosecutors have all along alleged Const. Forcillo committed second-degree murder suggests “the Crown is looking for a fallback position” lest a jury be unconvinced the officer had the requisite mens rea, or intent, for murder, Mr. Brauti told Postmedia News in a phone interview Tuesday.