Death of Abdirahman Abdi: start of the coroner’s investigation

Eight years after the death of Abdirahman Abdi, the public inquest by the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario begins Monday. Twenty-one days of hearings are planned and approximately 25 witnesses are expected to be called to the stand to determine the circumstances of his death.

This is the Senior Regional Coroner, Eastern Region, Ottawa Office, Dr. Louise McNaughton-Filionwho received the mandate to pilot the investigation which will be chaired by Dr. David Eden. The coroner’s public inquest will be conducted entirely by videoconference, and the public will be able to follow everything in real time.

Abdirahman Abdi, a 38-year-old Canadian of Somali origin, died on July 26, 2016 following a brutal arrest.

Two Ottawa Police Service officers responded to an altercation in a cafe. Officer Daniel Montsion chased Abdirahman Abdi down the street using pepper spray and hitting him with his baton. The police officer allegedly hit him on the head several times.

Daniel Montsion wore gloves reinforced on the knuckles at the time of the intervention. Abdirahman Abdi suffered cardiac arrest, then lost his vital signs, before being pronounced dead the following day.

Officer Montsion has pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. He was found not guilty, after a long, highly publicized trial in 2020. The judge Robert Kelly said the Crown had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer’s actions caused Abdirahman Abdi’s death.

Why is the public inquiry opening eight years later?

To this question, the Coroner’s Office explained that it must open its investigation when all other investigations and prosecutions have been completed and appeal deadlines have expired.

A coroner’s inquest is mandatory when death occurs due to an injury sustained in the custody of a police officer.

The Abdirahman Abdi affair in a few dates:

In the wake of the death of the Canadian of Somali origin, a movement called Justice for Abdirahman took shape, organizing several rallies, notably in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Mississauga. The anniversary of his death, in 2020, also revived the movement Black Lives Matter.

At the end of this public inquiry, the jury, made up of five people, will have to render a verdict which will answer five questions concerning the death of Abdirahman Abdi, namely who, when, where, how and by what means. Jurors will also be able to make recommendations.