[URBAN NOTE] "G20 officer found not guilty on assault charges"

[rfmcdonald]

I don't think that anyone will be surprised by the news that a policeman charged with beating someone at the G20 protests three years ago was just acquitted (the news was carried by the CBC, among others). It might be noteworthy that apparently police on the scene were unable to identify which of their fellows, even when presented with video evidence of the aftermath of the assault.

An Ontario Superior Court judge has acquitted Toronto police Const. Glenn Weddell on all assault charges arising from the G20 protests nearly three years ago.

Weddell was charged after Dorian Barton's shoulder was broken on June 26, 2010. Barton alleged that a police officer hit him with a riot shield, knocking him to the ground.

Weddell, the first Toronto officer to go on trial for charges stemming from the protests, pleaded not guilty to assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

[. . .]

Weddell testified that he doesn't remember seeing anyone assault Barton, but noted that in the video it looks like another officer kicks Barton at one point while he's on the ground.

"It was more like, 'Get up, get out of here,"' Weddell testified. "That could be construed as assault, definitely, but it was more like a motivational thing ... I see that in the video."