Toronto police officer accused of stealing items from dead people cross-examined
The Toronto police officer accused of stealing personal belongings from the dead while on duty was back in court Thursday and spent the afternoon on the stand being cross-examined by the Crown.
Earlier this week, lawyers went over what occurred on Feb. 18, 2022, when Const. Boris Borissov was called to investigate the apartment of a missing man, who was later found to have died by suicide.
When Borissov searched the home, he found an empty box for a Tag Heuer watch. His phone records would reveal that the constable Googled the brand's name shortly after.
On Thursday, Crown prosecutor Samuel Walker questioned Borissov about what he found in the bedroom of the missing man when he and the man's brother searched it.
Borissov testified that he saw a "big watch box" and an "empty box of Tag Heuer watch."
Walker argued that it did not make sense that an officer was "focusing on watches" during a missing person's investigation. He went on to suggest that it would only take a second to swipe a watch when the other people in the room were not paying attention.
Borissov was also questioned about why police searches found three illegal GPS jammers and one radio-frequency jammer in vehicles he had purchased from a man identified as Zvedzdomir Mollov.
The constable is also accused of allegedly taking a credit card linked to a separate missing person and giving it to Mollov in April 2022. Mollov allegedly used it to make a purchase at a Mississauga store. Following further investigation, police discovered that Borissov and Mollov allegedly obtained vehicles fraudulently using the stolen credit card from the missing man, who was later found deceased.
During Thursday's cross examination, Walker delved into the fact that Borissov had conducted checks on the vehicles and determined that one might have been stolen while another was previously owned by a man facing arrest warrants.
"As a police officer, having learned all of this information, did you not think to yourself, this is suspicious?" Walker asked. He further interrogated Borissov to see if he did not think it "looks like some kind of stolen car ring is going on."
The officer said no. The Crown finished his line of inquiry by asking whether Borissov did not report what he found about the vehicles because, in some way, "you were helping."
Borissov has pleaded not guilty to charges of theft, fraud, breach of trust by an official, obstruction of justice, and unauthorized use of a computer system. The police veteran of 16 years has been suspended with pay since February 2022.
With files from Alex Arsenych
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.