Sentencing hearing for Cst. James Forcillo postponed until Wednesday

A sentencing hearing for the police officer who was found guilty of attempted murder in the death of Sammy Yatim has been postponed until Wednesday.

Lawyers for Constable James Forcillo requested extra time at the hearing this morning. They are expected to argue for a sentence of house arrest. Forcillo has filed a constitutional challenge to the mandatory minimum sentence of four or five years that he faces in the shooting.

18 year old Yatim was shot and killed in July 2013 while he was on an empty streetcar. The shooting was captured on cellphone and surveillance video. Forcillo was acquitted of second-degree murder 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, who is out on bail, had pleaded not guilty to the charges he faced in Yatim’s death.