Const. James Forcillo shot Sammy Yatim - the trial

pfbmgd said:
No one here was there . The only information conveyed to police is a man with his dick hanging out threatening people with a knife . I'm not sure if he had information someone was hurt or not .Forcilo will needs to explain his actions in court . Not on this forum to arm chair quaterback hero's.
One again if you have not been in a situation where you face serious threat to your life . You have no idea how you will react.

I get the situation even others don't.
Click to expand...
The video puts us there, without the emotion.

"Sorry your honour, I was emotional so I killed him."
"Well son, go home then and try to be less emotional next time."

I don't know how I'd react, but if I'd react like Forcillo I'd be wrong and should be prosecuted for it. I'd also expect to be judge harshly by the public. We have that right, and we have ample evidence to support a very strong opinion on the events that unfolded. If Forcillo honestly was caught up in emotions rather than just a bully with a badge, then I have sympathy for him. But what he did is wrong no matter how you slice it.
 
I don't know how I'd react either but one thing's for damn sure, I would buy a VRod.
 
inreb said:
I don't know how I'd react either but one thing's for damn sure, I would buy a VRod.
Click to expand...

At least you're thinking is reasonable. I mean, who wouldn't?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
After the first 3 bullets went through him, he still wouldn't "drop the knife" or comply with police orders.
Being dead is no excuse for refusing to obey the commands of the authorities that rule over you. :rolleyes:
 
Chicago cop just charged with murder (year+ later) after judge finally ordered dash cam video released.

16 shots, 13 after kid had hit the ground. 2 in back.

Jason Van Dyke was officer, killing 17 year old Lanquan McDonald.
 
He had to do it, it was for his own and fellow police officers safety

:rolleyes:
 
Go big or go home.
 
Boots said:
Forcillos testimony was pretty weak at best.
Click to expand...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...-killing-of-teen-sammy-yatim/article27480023/

By the time Constable Forcillo fired, the streetcar was empty except for Mr. Yatim. Although he was defiant and non-compliant, refusing to drop his weapon, he did not appear, from what we see in the video, to pose an immediate threat to anyone’s life.
Why, then, did Constable Forcillo pull the trigger?
He told the court that he fired the first volley because, “I believed Mr. Yatim, who was armed with a knife, was in the process of coming off the streetcar” to attack. He says he fired the second volley because he believed (the defence admits mistakenly) that “Mr. Yatim was in the process of getting off the streetcar to continue” his attack.
The videos cast doubt on both those conclusions. Mr. Yatim is not charging at police when Constable Forcillo fires. He is still on the streetcar, near the top of the steps. He is not getting off the streetcar when the second volley hits him. He is lying prone and helpless.
 
I love this line ”They are taught there is no such thing as an absolutely safe distance from a person with a knife."

There is very much a thing as absolute safe distance form a knife. Are they going with a 'I followed my training and don't use common sense' defence.
 
Last edited:
Well, Forcillo is NOT helping himself. I think testifying was a big mistake, but what do I know?

If he had to do it over, with only the information he had at the time, Const. James Forcillo wouldn’t change anything he did the night he shot Sammy Yatim on a Dundas streetcar, he testified Thursday.

“Knowing what I know now,” he said, “I would have never taken the second volley.”
Click to expand...

So, knowing what he knows now, he would have still kill him in less than 60 seconds of arriving there?
 
From the G&M article

"Of course, they are also told that deadly force should be a last resort, used only when their safety or the safety of people nearby is at risk. And they are trained in the use of de-escalation techniques – talking the suspect down instead of taking him out.

One of the big questions in the Yatim case is why no one appears to have attempted this with the clearly disturbed Mr. Yatim – nobody, that is, except the streetcar driver, who spoke calmly with the youth, telling him things would be all right and saying he should sit down."
 
ZX600 said:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...-killing-of-teen-sammy-yatim/article27480023/

By the time Constable Forcillo fired, the streetcar was empty except for Mr. Yatim. Although he was defiant and non-compliant, refusing to drop his weapon, he did not appear, from what we see in the video, to pose an immediate threat to anyone’s life.
Why, then, did Constable Forcillo pull the trigger?
He told the court that he fired the first volley because, “I believed Mr. Yatim, who was armed with a knife, was in the process of coming off the streetcar” to attack. He says he fired the second volley because he believed (the defence admits mistakenly) that “Mr. Yatim was in the process of getting off the streetcar to continue” his attack.
The videos cast doubt on both those conclusions. Mr. Yatim is not charging at police when Constable Forcillo fires. He is still on the streetcar, near the top of the steps. He is not getting off the streetcar when the second volley hits him. He is lying prone and helpless.
Click to expand...

Regardless of what I think about Forcillo and this incident... I feel much stronger about it than most others.

You must understand that Forcillo perception at the time of the incident is more significant to the trial then facts learned after. Forcillo had no idea if someone else was on the street car at the time... He couldn't know for sure. Obviously we know that Sammy wasn't going to get up, he couldn't... but what matters more.. is Forcillo's perception... Did he believe Sammy was getting up at the time?
He can now say "I would have done this differently" because he now knows Sammy was paralyzed in the first volley of shots and the second was not necessary... but he is being tried for his perceptions and reactions at the time... not what he knows now.

I hope you all are expecting him to be found not guilty.... If not, you're going to be upset.
James Forcillo will not be convicted of 2nd degree... He can't be...
He should have been charged with manslaughter!
 
raginduck said:
you must understand that forcillo perception at the time of the incident is more significant to the trial then facts learned after.
Click to expand...
wut!?!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom