'Assault gloves' to be entered into evidence at Montsion trial

The reinforced gloves worn by an Ottawa police officerduring the arrest of Abdirahman Abdi are expected to be entered into evidence Tuesday as the officer's trial resumes.

Const. Daniel Montsion pleaded not guilty Monday tomanslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in Abdi's death in front of hisHintonburgapartment building in July 2016.

• Ottawa police officer charged with manslaughter in man's 2016 death

The gloves, which have thick carbon fibre plates over the knuckles, came under scrutinyfollowing Abdi's death.

• Deadly weapon? Ottawa police assault gloves scrutinized after officer charged in death

'An arrest gone bad'

On Monday, the Crown told a packed courtroom that Montsion'strial is the story of"an arrest gone bad."

• 'Unjustified' punches caused Abdirahman Abdi's death, Crown begins

Assistant Crown attorney Philip Perlmuttercharacterizedthe evidence as "uncomplicated," and boiled the trial down to two central questions:

1. Did the accused use excessive force?
2. Did the accused cause the death of Abdirahman Abdi?

On Tuesday, the Crown will call David Robinson, a forensic investigator with Ontario'sSpecial Investigations Unit,back tothe stand.

Robinson collected blood and other evidence from the scene, including a thumb drivecontaining security video footage from the lobby of Abdi's apartment building.

Activist Desmond Cole speaks with CBC

6 years ago

Duration 7:45

Activist and writer Desmond Cole speaks with CBC about Const. Daniel Montsion's trial for the death of Abdirahman Abdi

'Unjustified' punches

Perlmuttersaid the video will show footage ofMontsionjoiningConst. Dave Weir at thescene before punchingAbdimore than once in the face with a closed fist.Montsiondid not hesitateandwaswearingreinforced gloves,Perlmuttertold the court.

He said the footage will then showMontsionandWeir hauling a bleedingAbdito the ground, where the accusedthen punchedAbdiin the legsand again in the face.Abdistopped moving shortly after that,Perlmuttersaid.

It was those "unjustified" blows to Abdi's head and body that caused his fatal heart attack, the Crown said Monday.

Perlmutter acknowledged Abdi had a pre-existing heart condition, but said theblows to Abdi's head and body caused his fatal heart attack.

Community support

Abdi's mother and brother, who witnessed the arrest, will also testify, but won't observe the trial.On Monday, more than 40 members of Ottawa's Somali community came tothe courthouse to show support.

This case is beyond theAbdifamily. It's a casethat touchesOttawansfrom every corner of the city.- FarhiaAhmad,Justice forAbdirahmanCoalition

"This case is beyond the Abdi family. It's a case that touches Ottawans from every corner of the city," said FarhiaAhmad ofthe Justice for AbdirahmanCoalition.

"The outcome will show what is needed in our policing and police oversight in order for thecommunity to feel safe and for the police services to get a sense of what they need for something like this to never happen again," she said.

Toronto activist and journalist Desmond Cole, who has written extensively about racial discrimination in Canada, was also in the courtroom.

He said he came to support the family, but noted no outcome will bring Abdi back.

"We have to continue to mourn and honour his life, no matter what happens in this case, and we have to make sure that this never happens again," Cole said.