Toronto cop testifies in own defence

The Toronto police officer on trial for killing a teen on a TTC streetcar three summers ago is expected to continue testifying in his own defence today.

Constable James Forcillo told court yesterday that he shot Sammy Yatim after a brief stand-off lasting less than a minute, because he feared an attack.

Forcillo says he believed the teen, who was high on drugs and carrying a knife, was coming off the streetcar to attack him.

After his initial shots, Forcillo testified that he thought Yatim was getting up to keep attacking him, so he fired another six bullets at him.

Forcillo testified that he had been trained to draw his gun if someone draws a knife, and to fire as many times as necessary to incapacitate a threat, but added he didn’t intend to kill anybody.

Forcillo is the first witness for the defence at the trial.