top of page
Search
Writer's pictureJohn Piszczek

Ottawa Officer not guilty on all charges in death of Abdirahman Abdi, judge finds

This post will focus on the burden of proof: beyond a reasonable doubt. Although, there are cases published in the media that might shock the layperson media more than an educated lawyer, informed of the rights and values in this country upheld in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. One of the rights are, the presumption of innocence. One of the legal principles are that your presumed innocent until the Crown or prosecution has proven you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a very onerous burden. Sometimes defence counsel must find just one loose clink in the Crown's case and it may be enough to acquit and find someone not guilty. Recently in Ottawa, a police officer was found not guilty of some serious offences. The judge had to consider everything in totality and in his decision, it appears he found that the gloves the officer used were issued by his employer. Further, it does not appear there was a causal connection between the video recorded punches to the head and the death of Mr. Abdi. Even if it more more likely than not, on a balance of probability that the officer killed Mr. Abdi, that is not enough to find someone guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Defence counsel just had to show some reasonable doubt. Blackstone's ratio was echoed by Benjamin Franklin who stated it as: "it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer".



17 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentários


Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page