Sentencing hearing postponed for Const. James Forcillo, convicted in streetcar shooting

A sentencing hearing for a Torontopoliceofficer found guilty ofattempted murder in the death of a teen on an empty streetcar has beenpostponedto Wednesday.

Lawyers for Const. James Forcillo requested extra time Monday tocomplete their preparations on the case. Theyare expected to seeka sentence of house arrest.

• Forcillo seeks to avoid mandatory minimum prison sentence for death of Sammy Yatim
• James Forcillo's time behind bars could be years away: lawyer
• James Forcillo guilty of attempted murder in streetcar shooting of Sammy Yatim

Forcillo has filed a constitutional challenge to the mandatory minimum sentence of four or five years that he faces in the shooting death of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim.

The challenge is expected to be the first part of Forcillo's sentencing hearing and will likelylast two to three days. The sentencing arguments are expected tofollow and likely takeanother couple of days.

Forcillo was acquitted of second-degree murder in Yatim's death in January, but a jury found the officer guilty of attempted murder for continuing to fire after the dying teen had fallen to the floor.

Forcillo's lawyers are arguing that certain sections of the Criminal Code involving the mandatory minimum sentence for attempted murder are unconstitutional and weren't meant to deal with cases like Forcillo's.

Monday's court appearance was expected to be brief, with Forcillo's lawyerseeking more time to prepare for submissions set for Wednesday.

Yatim's July 2013 death, which was captured on cellphone video that went viral, triggered public outrage and prompted Toronto's police chief to launch a review of officers' use of force and their response to emotionally disturbed people.

Forcillo, who is out on bail, had pleaded not guilty to the charges he faced in Yatim's death.