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Toronto cop who shot teen appears in court for attempt to obstruct justice charge

Dec 29, 2017 | 8:30 AM

TORONTO — The case of a Toronto police officer found guilty of attempted murder in the fatal shooting of a teen on a streetcar and now charged with attempting to obstruct justice and perjury will return to court next month.

Const. James Forcillo appeared in court Friday and is set to appear by video link on Jan. 12 to schedule a bail hearing on the charges, which were laid last week.

Even if he is granted bail on those charges, however, Forcillo would remain in custody to serve his sentence in the shooting of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim.

The officer had been out on bail living under house arrest as he appealed his conviction, but his bail was revoked in November after he was charged for breaching his bail conditions.

Forcillo was sentenced to six years in prison last year for his role in the shooting, an incident that set off a wave of public outrage after video of what happened went viral.

He has since asked the appeal court to substitute a not-guilty verdict or order a new trial in his case.

He is also seeking a declaration that the mandatory minimum sentence for attempted murder is unconstitutional, and wants to be granted a suspended sentence. Barring that, he wants his sentence reduced to the minimum five years.

The Canadian Press