Forcillo’s partner says she believed Yatim was ‘going to get himself shot’

TORONTO — The partner of a Toronto police officer who killed a teen on an empty streetcar says she believed the 18-year-old was going to get himself shot.
Const. Iris Fleckheisen is testifying today at Const. James Forcillo’s trial and recalling the night he shot down a knife-toting Sammy Yatim on a streetcar in July 2013.
Forcillo has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder in Yatim’s death.

Fleckheisen, who holstered her gun while Forcillo aimed his at Yatim, says she believed the teen was acting hostile and belligerent while “prominently displaying” a knife in his right hand.
She says based on the youth’s actions, she believed “he was going to get himself shot.”
The jury that will decide the case has heard that Yatim had consumed the drug ecstasy before he boarded a streetcar on which he pulled out a small knife.
Videos and audio played at the trial have shown that Forcillo arrives on the scene, yells repeatedly at Yatim to “drop the knife” and fires nine bullets at the teen after a 50 second confrontation.

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