Umar Zameer’s lawyer: ‘We knew the truth’
Summary
TLDRThe script recounts the intense emotions and reactions following the not guilty verdict for Umar Zamir, accused of killing an officer. Defense attorney N. Hassan describes the courtroom tension, the relief of the family, and the challenges of moving forward. He addresses the premature public narrative labeling Zamir a 'cop killer' and criticizes political and police comments, emphasizing the presumption of innocence. The attorney also discusses the unusual legal strategy of an immediate defense opening and reflects on the significance of this case in his career.
Takeaways
- 😢 The courtroom was filled with tension and emotions when the verdict was read, with many shedding tears including the defendant's family and legal team.
- 🏆 The defendant, Mr. Zamir, has a strong support system with a caring family, but continues to feel the weight of the incident and its impact on Officer Northrup's family.
- 🤔 Mr. Zamir's first concern was for Officer Northrup's family, showing empathy and humanity despite the charges against him.
- 📚 The defense took an unusual and risky approach by giving their opening statement immediately after the Crown's, a move that demonstrated confidence in their narrative.
- 🕵️♂️ The defense's strategy was based on the unwavering truth of the case, as they knew the evidence and testimonies would not change their story.
- 🗣️ There was significant public and political pressure, with some high-ranking officials making prejudicial comments before the trial's conclusion.
- 🚨 The police chief and other officials were criticized for their comments, which were seen as irresponsible and potentially harmful to the integrity of the case.
- 📉 The aftermath of the verdict saw a shift in public opinion, with many expressing support for the defendant and the legal team, and a desire to contribute to a legal defense fund.
- 👮♂️ The current police chief's comments were interpreted as speaking to a specific audience, possibly current police officers, and were seen as challenging the verdict.
- 🏛️ The legal team emphasized the importance of the presumption of innocence and the role of elected officials in upholding the integrity of the justice system.
- 🏆 The lawyer highlighted the significance of this case among his career, emphasizing that it was fulfilling and important due to the truth and justice served, not because of any legal trickery.
Q & A
What was the atmosphere in the court when the verdict was read?
-The atmosphere was tense with everyone on edge. When the verdict was announced, it was followed by an avalanche of emotions, including sobbing from the defendant's family and relief for the defendant.
How did the defendant, Mr. Zamir, react to the verdict?
-Mr. Zamir's family was sobbing, and he himself was feeling awful, not for himself, but for Officer Northrop and his family, showing empathy and concern for them throughout the process.
What was the unusual approach taken by the defense in this case?
-The defense decided to give their opening immediately after the Crown's opening, which is considered unusual and risky, as the defense typically waits to hear the prosecution's full case before presenting their own.
Why did the defense choose to give their opening right after the Crown's?
-They knew the truth of the case would not change regardless of the prosecution's evidence, so they wanted to present the truthful narrative to the jury, judge, and Canadians as soon as possible.
How did the public narrative differ from the actual events of the case?
-The public narrative, influenced by comments from high-ranking officials, labeled the defendant as a 'cop killer,' which was a stark contrast to the actual events and the truth of the case.
What was the defense's response to the comments made by high-ranking officials about the case?
-The defense criticized these comments as ignorant, reckless, and irresponsible, emphasizing the importance of the presumption of innocence in the criminal justice system.
How did the defense deal with the public backlash, including hate mail and death threats?
-The defense did not blame the public for their reactions, understanding that their hatred was stoked by the narrative presented by elected officials and the police chief.
What was the change in public sentiment after the trial?
-After the trial, the defense received an outpouring of support from people across the country who wanted to contribute to a legal defense fund and expressed their support for the truth revealed in the trial.
How did the police chief's comments after the verdict affect the perception of the Toronto Police Service?
-The police chief's comments, expressing disagreement with the not guilty verdict, were seen as frustrating and embarrassing, as they did not align with the expectations of honor and acceptance of the legal process.
What does the defense believe accountability looks like in this case?
-Accountability does not mean a guilty verdict for an innocent person. The defense believes that the truth and the actual events of the case should be the focus, and that sending an innocent person to jail would not have been just.
How does this case rank among the lawyer's other high-profile cases?
-This case is considered one of the most fulfilling and important cases the lawyer has worked on, emphasizing the significance of each case to the client, regardless of public prominence.
Outlines
🏛️ Courtroom Emotion After Verdict
The first paragraph describes the intense atmosphere in the courtroom as the verdict was announced. The tension was palpable, with everyone waiting anxiously. Upon hearing the verdict, a wave of emotions swept through the room, including tears from the defendant and his family. The defendant, Mr. Zamir, has been living with the burden of the case for three years, and despite the relief of the verdict, he continues to feel remorse for Officer Northrop and his family. The defense attorney discusses the unusual strategy of giving their opening statement immediately after the Crown's, emphasizing the unwavering truth of their narrative. The paragraph also addresses the public narrative shaped by political figures and the defense's response to those comments, highlighting the importance of the presumption of innocence in the justice system.
🚔 Police Chief's Reaction and Public Support
The second paragraph delves into the aftermath of the not guilty verdict, focusing on the reactions of the police chief and the public. The police chief's comments suggest disagreement with the verdict, which the defense attorney finds frustrating, as it undermines the jury's decision and the justice system's integrity. The attorney also addresses the support they have received from Canadians who now understand the truth of the case, contrasting it with the initial hate mail and threats they received. The conversation touches on the role of the police chief in representing both the police force and the city, and the importance of honoring the truth in the case of a fallen officer.
🏅 Reflections on a High-Profile Case
In the final paragraph, the defense attorney reflects on the significance of the case in the context of their career. Despite being recognized as a top lawyer and having worked on high-profile cases, the attorney emphasizes that the not guilty verdict was due to the truth of the case, not any legal trickery. They express that while this case has brought them prominence, it is one of many important cases they have handled, each with its own significance to the client involved. The attorney also acknowledges the support they have received and the importance of treating every case with the same dedication and care.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Verdict
💡Tension
💡Emotional Relief
💡Support System
💡Presumption of Innocence
💡Cross-Examination
💡Narrative
💡Accountability
💡Influence
💡High-Profile Cases
💡Legal Defense Fund
Highlights
The courtroom atmosphere was extremely tense leading up to the verdict, with everyone on edge.
Upon the verdict being read, an avalanche of emotions was released, including sobbing from the defendant's family and the defense team.
The family of Mr. Zamir has been living with the case for three years, and the verdict brought a tidal wave of relief.
The challenge of moving on with life in the city, burdened by the case's weight, is significant for Mr. Zamir and his family.
Mr. Zamir has a strong support system but continues to feel awful for Officer Northrup and his family.
Mr. Zamir's first concern was the well-being of Officer Northrup's family, showing empathy beyond his own situation.
The defense took an unusual and risky approach by giving their opening immediately after the Crown's opening.
The defense's decision was based on the knowledge that their narrative would not change regardless of the prosecution's evidence.
The defense aimed to present the truthful narrative to the court, judge, and Canadians as soon as possible.
There was a stark contrast between the public narrative of 'cop killer' and the actual events of the case.
High-ranking officials, including the premier and police chief, made irresponsible and ignorant comments about the case.
The defense faced hate mail and death threats due to the public narrative stoked by elected officials and the police chief.
After the verdict, the defense received an outpouring of support from Canadians who now understand the truth of the case.
The Toronto police chief's comments after the verdict were seen as disagreeing with the not guilty finding, which is concerning.
The chief's comments could potentially harm the image of the Toronto police, as Canadians expect honorable behavior from their police service.
Accountability in this context does not mean a guilty verdict but rather the truth being acknowledged and accepted.
The defense lawyer emphasizes that the case's outcome was due to Mr. Zamir's actual innocence, not just legal strategy.
The lawyer reflects on the significance of the case and its fulfillment, ranking it highly among his career's work.
The lawyer also acknowledges the importance of all clients, whether their cases are high-profile or not.
Transcripts
take us inside the court when that
verdict was read what was the reaction
well there was a lot of tension building
up to that verdict uh everyone was on
the edge of their seat you could hear a
a pin drop in there um and then when the
verdict was read out it was just an
avalanche of emotion uh you could hear
my client sobbing I mean I had tears
welling up in my eyes as did my my
co-counsel Alexander Hine we could hear
U Mr zamir's family sobbing behind us uh
they've been living with this for the
last three years um this has been
something that's occupied their lives
and it was just a a tidal wave of of
relief at that point how do they move on
with their life living in this city in
with the weight of all of this that's a
challenge um that they're going to face
um I mean they're good people and Mr
zamir he's he's got a he's got a good
support system a wonderful family to
support him but I also know that he
continues to feel awful he always has
throughout this process awful for
officer Northrup and the family of
Officer Northrop Omar has never wallowed
in his own self-pity for having to deal
with this always number one the first
thing he mentioned to me when I met him
in that Detention Center nearly three
years ago it wasn't how do you how can
you get me out of here it was how's that
man's poor family doing are they okay
that was the first question he asked of
me and I know he's going to live uh with
that weight on his shoulders for the
rest of his life there are so many
things from a law perspective that we
could spend hours and hours and hours
discussing and I and all of it would be
fascinating but there are some different
approaches that you took here including
a very rare instance of giving your um
your opening immediately after the
Crown's opening which is unusual why did
you take that approach yeah you're
you're right to point out that it's
unusual it's it's also considered a
risky approach um the defense in a
criminal case because the burden's not
on them they don't have to say anything
and so the defense for strategic reasons
is is allowed to uh wait and hear the
prosecution's full case before even
deciding whether to call any evidence of
their own uh or or rather just try to
undermine the prosecution's case through
cross-examination and then close to the
jury and make a make a pitch to The Jury
as to why the crown hasn't proven its
case Beyond Reasonable Doubt in this
case was unusual though it was unusual
because we knew the story we knew the
truth and we knew that was not going to
change no matter what evidence the
prosecution presented we knew what the
truth was and we knew what evidence that
uh Mr zamir would give and what evidence
Miss Shake would give because it's the
same story they told police that very
night when Mr zamir was arrested so our
narrative was not going to change no
matter what the prosecution did and so
we thought it was important for the
jurors for the judge and for Canadians
to hear the truthful narrative sooner
rather than
later just the idea of the narrative is
fascinating to me because from the very
beginning hours and the weeks that
followed there was a very different
narrative that was being presented
publicly um cop killer in short and in
in in some instances it was coming from
very high political office the premier
Doug Ford saying that this was you know
the release of your client on bail was
an example of the system prioritizing
criminals in his words over victims um
the police chief at that time James rmer
said that this was an intentional
deliberate act um the the mayor of
Brampton where Constable Northrup lived
uh Patrick Brown said the decision to
release him was
wrong in the aftermath of this verdict
how do you contextualize those comments
how do you you can't contextualize them
other than to say they many of those
comments were were completely ignorant
comments they were Reckless they were
irresponsible and they came from people
who should know better uh the
presumption of innocence is the one of
the pillars of our criminal justice
system and for politicians to spout off
and and sentence a man and condemn a man
who's Presumed Innocent without knowing
any of the true details of the case it
is reckless it is irresponsible Canadian
deserve and expect more from their
elected officials I'd like to believe
I'd hope that these politicians did not
know the true facts of the case uh when
they spout it off doesn't make their
behavior that much better but I'd like
to believe I'd like to give them that
much benefit of Doubt uh the the police
chief arguably he should have known if
he didn't know he should have known what
the true facts were uh at that point
when he held a press conference saying
this was a deliberate and intentional
Act because the police knew at that time
what had actually happened and they
chose to ignore the truth at a time when
the police had a monopoly on the public
narrative and at that time um we were
receiving hate mail even death threats
for having the audacity to take on this
case um and I don't blame those folks um
the ignorant folks who sent us those
messages I don't blame them because that
hatred had been stoked by elected
officials and by the chief of police
himself now the good news story is that
over the past two months we've been
inundated with messages of support from
people across the country saying we
offer our support we want to help please
tell us if there's a legal defense fund
we want to contribute to it and the
difference between then and now is that
Canadians know the truth let's talk
about now because in the aftermath of
this not guilty verdict there were
remember people who spoke outside the
courthouse yesterday you were one of
them your client Umar zamir was one of
them so was the police chief myON demq
who said that he and many officers on
the Toronto Police Service had hoped for
a different outcome how do you hear
those
comments the the chief of police is
speaking to a particular
constituency um I'd like to believe that
there are many honorable police officers
out there and I'd like to believe that
there are many honorable police officers
who believe that the best way to honor a
fallen com comrade uh Fallen colleague
is is to tell the truth and and not
obfuscate or lie in order uh to to tow
that line um and indeed there were
honorable police officers who even gave
testimony during the course of this
trial the Collision Reconstructionist
for instance he's a good example of an
honorable police officer and who said
that the account of what the three plane
Clos police officers in the garage said
happened that day by his evidence could
not have happened but I want to pick up
about what you said about the police
chief's comments that he was speaking
yesterday to a particular constituency
I'm going to interpret that as police
officers who are on the force right now
on his force that he is the leader of
but he's also the police chief for this
city that's right what does it do for
the image of the Toronto police when the
police police chief comes up and says
essentially I disagree with this not
guilty
finding I I think we as Canadians expect
that the police service and the police
chief will behave honorably I I think
that's what we expect as Canadians and
we want them to and we have a situation
here where there was a a a lengthy trial
the evidence came out um commentators
are nearly unanimous in terms of what
the appropriate outcome is it was a jury
of 12 Canadians who come from different
walks of life they heard the evidence
they deliberated carefully and they
determined that Mr zamir was not guilty
because he's not guilty um it is
somewhat
frustrating and embarrassing that that
we have a chief of police who cannot
accept this reality conable northrup's
Widow spoke outside the court yesterday
and used a word which is a very
interesting one that she came looking
for accountability yeah and when you L
lose a loved one particularly in such
sudden tragic circumstances um he was
run over and that was never never in
doubt and and Umar zamir your client was
the one who ran him over and that was
never in doubt but that word
accountability what can accountability
look like if not a guilty verdict
yeah let me just start off by saying
that I have tremendous Sympathy for the
for um Mrs Northrup and I feel horrible
for what she's been through and um uh I
sympathize with her uh to no end as does
my client and his family um I I can't
imagine right now what's going through
her mind um all all I can say is this I
I also feel bad for her because I think
she been told a particular narrative for
the last 3 years by those within the
police service and perhaps the Police
Association who were supposed to be
looking out for her interests um and
they she's been told a particular
narrative that is not true and she's
been forced to sit through the last
three years um with an impression uh
that something happened that just didn't
happen and so um I she is very much a
victim in all of this and I feel
horribly for her but it would not have
done anyone any good to send an innocent
person to
jail I want to speak about the context
under which you see this in um you have
come to some prominence as a result of
this trial but many within the legal
Community will already have known you
you were named one of the top 25 most
influential lawyers in in the country uh
you've been involved in a number of very
high-profile cas cases you began your
career in New York in corporate law you
were doing pro bono work there and
you've come here and been involved in um
some very high-profile cases all to say
you've had a
career where does this fit in it what
have you
learned well let me just say one thing I
appreciate that that you know you're
you're giving me some props here on the
radio and I appreciate that and I
appreciate the words of support from
people across the country but I want to
make one thing clear Mr zamir was found
not guilty not because of some fancy
lawyering I mean we were there we did
our job myself and my brilliant
colleague Alexander Hine we were there
we did our jobs but he was found not
guilty because he's not guilty not
because of any tricks or fancy lawyering
his lawyers did um but in terms of where
this ranks this ranks up there as as one
of the most fulfilling and important
cases I've done um but I have many
clients whose names will never be in the
news uh and their cases are just as
important to them as this case was to Mr
zamir and as the defense counsel you
need to be mindful of that each and
every time you step into that courtroom
n Hassan thank you very much for your
time today thank you for having me
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