Sammy Yatim killing: Toronto police officer pleads not guilty - Action News
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Sammy Yatim killing: Toronto police officer pleads not guilty

The Toronto police officer charged in the shooting death of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim on a TTC streetcar in 2013 has pleaded not guilty and will go to trial on Oct. 13.

Jury selection now under way for trial which is expected to last 8 weeks

Const. James Forcillo was suspended with pay for seven months following Yatim's death. (CBC)

The Toronto police officer charged in the 2013 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim on a TTC streetcar has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder.

Const. James Forcillo's trial is scheduled to begin in Toronto on Oct. 13. He entered not guilty pleas to the two charges on Wednesday in Superior Court and jury selection is now taking place.

Yatim was shot whilestanding on an empty streetcar on Dundas Street West.

Cellphone footage of the incident was widely circulated after his death and caused public outrage.Nine shots can be heard onthose videos, following shouts forYatimto drop a knife. The final six shots appear to come after the teen had already fallen to the floor of the empty streetcar.

Forcillo was suspended with pay for seven monthsfollowing the shooting of Yatim. He returned to work with the service'sCrime Stoppers unit in April 2014.

Thetrial is expected to last eight weeks, andForcillo's lawyer Peter Brauti says his client is eager for itto start so he can tell his side of the story.

Brauti says he hopes the jury in the case will be made up of "12open-minded people that are prepared to reserve judgement untilthey've heard the evidence."

There are approximately 350 people in the jury pool.Judge EdwardThen said Wednesday thatthe selected jurors must"approach the trial with an open mind."

With files from The Canadian Press