Police officer charged in Abdirahman Abdi's death to face trial in 2019

The Ottawa police officer facing criminal charges in the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi is scheduled to face a judge-only trial beginning in February2019.

Abdi, a 37-year-old Somali-Canadian man with unspecified mental health issues, lost vital signsduring a confrontationwith Const. Daniel Montsion and Const. Dave Weir on July 24, 2016. He waspronounced dead in hospitalthe following afternoon.

A CBC News investigation later uncovered thatMontsionhad been wearing a pair of reinforced gloves during the confrontation.

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Ontario's police watchdog was called in to investigate, and in March 2017the Special Investigations Unitcharged Montsion withmanslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

The Ontario Court of Justice has set aside about 12 weeks forthe trial, whichis scheduled to take placefrom Feb. 4 to May 3, 2019.

Montsion waives right to speedy trial

Montsion is being defended bylawyer Michael Edelson, who has represented a number of Ottawa police officers charged with criminal offences. A judge from out of town is handling the case, and Toronto-based prosecutor Philip Perlmutter has been assigned by the Crown.

Perlmuttertold court Wednesday thatthe earliest available date provided by the courthouse was in September 2018, but that Edelson's schedule wouldn't allow for the trial to start at that time.

Edelsonformally waived Montsion's right to claim in the future that his right to a speedy trial was violated.

Last year the Supreme Court established new rules about the length of time it should take for charges to be broughtto trial: In provincial courts, it should take no longer than 18 months from the time charges are laid.

In Montsion'scase, it will be about 23months.

Outside the courtroom,a co-chair of the Justice for AbdirahmanAbdiCoalitionsaid they're disappointed with the delay. DahaboAhmedOmer callsit unfair on Abdi'sfamily as well as the community.

Montsion was assigned to desk duty throughout the SIU's investigation and has beensuspended with pay since the charges were laid.