Police officer's manslaughter trial delayed over video concerns

The trial of the Ottawa police officer accused of manslaughter in the death of Abdirahman Abdi has been adjourned overconcerns aboutvideo evidence introduced just hours before the hearing began.

On Wednesday,three days into the trial of Const. Daniel Montsion, Ontario Court Justice Robert Kelly ordered an adjournmentuntil Feb. 25.

On Tuesday,Montsion's defence argued a key video of Abdi'sviolent arrest in July 2016 had been slowed down,influencing a pathologist's opinion, and likely the decision to lay charges against the officer.

Defence lawyerMichael Edelson told the court the video had arrived as a "Sunday bombshell," because the Crown had only disclosed it the day before the trial began.

"Obviously, when you received disclosure after 30 months, on the... Sunday afternoon, it was necessary," Edelsonsaid of theadjournment as he exited the courthouse Wednesday.

Key piece of evidence

The court was not planning to sitduring the week of Feb. 18,so including the time that would have been needed to argue the application for adjournment, the Crown told the court the delay would really only amount tothree or four days.

• 'Doctored' video changed pathologist's mind,Montsion'slawyers claim
• 'Unjustified' punches causedAbdirahmanAbdi'sdeath, Crown begins

The court heard Monday that the footage, captured by a security camera inside the lobby of the the building where Abdi's violent arrest took place, wouldbe a centrepiece of the Crown's case against Montsion, who is also charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

On Wednesday, the Crownagreed it would be appropriate to takeextra time to go over the video.

Counsel Roger Shallow told the court the Crown has been working to deal with the new information.

Plans to show both the original and slowed-down videos in courtWednesday were cancelled.

Kelly has asked all parties to return to court on Feb. 13 to begin discussions so the trial can resume in a "formal way" on Feb. 25.