“It took a long time, after more than nine years,” said Yatim’s mother, Sahar Bahadi. Having to relive the details of Yatim’s shooting is like rubbing salt in the wound, Bahadi said. “Sammy was a very good guy. He was so sweet, sensitive,” Bahadi told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning Monday. “He was so protective [over] his sister [and] the family and he does not deserve this end.” The coroner’s inquest was originally scheduled to begin Monday, but was postponed indefinitely after a motion was filed Sunday that halted the inquest, the coroner’s office said. Stephanie Rea, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Chief Coroner, said the investigation cannot continue until a decision is made on the motion. Rea said the motion is expected to be heard on Nov. 21, noting that a new date will be scheduled to begin the investigation once the motion is ruled on. Bahadi said while she feels “anxious” to hear about the circumstances that led to her son’s death once again, she is “disappointed” that the hearing will be held online and not in person. It was July 2013 when former Toronto police officer James Forcillo shot Yatim, 18, eight times before another officer shot the teenager. It was seen on surveillance video holding a knife moments before the police arrived. The video of the confrontation between Yatim and the police was widely viewed online. Forcillo was convicted in 2016 of attempted murder and later convicted of perjury for claiming he was living with his ex-wife while out on bail pending his appeal, when in fact he had moved in with his new fiancée. He was sentenced to six and a half years behind bars and was granted full parole in 2020. The inquest is expected to hear 11 witnesses over 10 days. Forensic investigations make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths in similar circumstances. “I hope it will have new recommendations that will benefit the people, the public and the victims,” Bahadi said. In 2016, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube recommended standardized, mandatory de-escalation training for police across the province. In August, more than six years later, Dube said progress was “painfully slow”.
