Police to testify first in Villanueva shooting inquest

Police officers involved in an altercation that led to a Montreal teenager's shooting death last year will testify first at a coroner's inquest probing the incident.

Lawyers representing the victim's family and police officers met Wednesday with Quebec Court Judge Robert Sansfaon to sort out procedural details, including the order in which witnesses would be called.

Sansfaon is acting as coroner in the inquest,whichis investigating the death of Fredy Villanueva in August 2008.

Villanueva, 18, was shot and killed by a Montreal police officer during a confrontation in the city's north end.

Villanueva's friends, who witnessed the shooting, were originally scheduled to testify first, before the two police officers involved.

But lawyers for the Villanueva family argued that it is time to hear the officers' version of events, before witnesses tell their side of the story. Sansfaon agreed with the request, in the interest of what he called "equality and transparency."

Neither of the two officers were questioned about the incident, but they offered written statements several days after the shooting.

Proceedings in the case were suspended last May after two key witnesses refused to participate because the province wouldn't cover their legal costs.

A deal has since been reached with the witnesses, and the inquest is set to resume Oct. 26.

The Villanueva family has repeatedly asked for a full-blown public inquiry, which would have a wider mandate than a coroner's inquest. Quebec has refused to act on the request until the coroner's investigation is complete.