Lawyer for accused in cop's murder asks public to keep an open mind about 'tragic case'
The lawyer for a man charged with first-degree murder in the death of a longtime Toronto police officer is pleading with the public to keep an “open mind” about the “tragic case.”
Const. Jeffrey Northrup, 55, was killed on July 2 when he was struck by a vehicle while responding to a report of a robbery in progress at an underground parking lot at Toronto City Hall. Investigators have since described the incident as an “intentional and deliberate act” and have charged 31-year-old Umar Zameer with first-degree murder.
Zameer made a brief appearance in court at Old City Hall on Friday morning, where he was remanded into custody until another appearance scheduled for Aug. 13.
Following his appearance, his lawyer Nader Hasan made a brief statement to reporters in which he expressed “sincere condolences” to Northrup’s family on behalf of his client while asking Torontonians to refrain from making a judgement about the case for now.
“When this matter goes to trial, the complete story of what took place in that city hall parking lot will emerge and it would be a mistake to assume that Mr. Zameer is guilty just because he has been charged with a very serious offence or because a dedicated public servant died on the job during this tragic event,” he said.
Few details have been released about the incident that claimed Northrup’s life and caused his partner to be hospitalized, though police were quick to deem it a homicide.
Hasan said that while “it goes without saying” that what transpired was a “terrible, terrible tragedy,” that doesn’t necessarily mean that criminality was involved.
“It is important to recognize that thus far, you have only been told of an allegation devoid of any context or detail about what is said to have taken place,” he said. “When this matter goes to trial, the evidence; not conjecture and not speculation, will fill in that detail and context and until that time, I ask that you keep an open mind and that you not rush to judgement.”
Northrup spent more than 31 years with the Toronto Police Service at the time of his death, including the last 13 as an officer with 52 Division in downtown Toronto.
He left behind a wife and three children.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.