An independent investigation conducted by the Ontario Provincial Police has definitively concluded that there is no evidence to support allegations of collusion among Toronto Police Service officers during the trial of Umar Zameer, who was acquitted in the death of Det.-Const. Jeffrey Northrup. The findings, detailed in a comprehensive 50-page report obtained by media outlets, directly counter serious accusations made by Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy in her instructions to the jury.
Investigation Rejects Judicial Allegations
The OPP-led probe was initiated at the request of Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw in April 2023, following Justice Molloy's charge to the jury in which she instructed them to consider the possibility that officers had colluded to lie about the events surrounding Northrup's death. The report states unequivocally: "The OPP investigation found no evidence to support the belief that Detective Constables Lisa Forbes, Scharnil Pais, or Tony Correa lied or colluded to lie."
Furthermore, the investigation determined that there were no reasonable grounds to believe a criminal offence had been committed by the officers involved. The allegations, which suggested an obstruction of justice, were found not to be based on the actual testimony and evidence presented during the trial.
Background of the Fatal Incident
Det.-Const. Jeffrey Northrup, a 55-year-old veteran officer, was killed shortly after midnight on July 2, 2021, while investigating a late-night stabbing near Toronto City Hall. Umar Zameer, who was in his BMW with his wife and young child, attempted to leave the underground parking garage when he was stopped by Northrup and other plainclothes officers.
Zameer testified that he did not realize the individuals were police officers and attempted to flee, striking and running over Northrup in the process. Northrup succumbed to his injuries. Zameer was arrested and charged with first-degree murder but was later found not guilty by a jury.
Discrepancies in Testimony and Evidence
During the trial, Justice Molloy highlighted inconsistencies between the officers' testimony and the evidence presented. Specifically, Forbes, Pais, and Correa all testified that Northrup was standing upright in front of Zameer's vehicle with his arms raised when he was struck. However, Toronto Police collision reconstructionists concluded that Northrup was actually standing next to the front-left fender and was knocked to the ground when the car reversed.
Molloy told the jury: "When three versions of an event are wrong, and wrong in the same way, you must also consider whether there has been collusion between those witnesses." She emphasized that it was for the jury to decide if it was possible for three officers to have the same mistaken memory.
OPP's Technical Analysis and Findings
The OPP's re-investigation included a detailed technical analysis that took into account the BMW's collision mitigation technology, which previous analyses had overlooked. The OPP reconstructionist concluded that Northrup was standing at the BMW's front-left corner when the vehicle accelerated forward, struck him, plowed him along the ground, drove over him, and fled the scene. This conclusion corroborated the testimony of the other TPS officers at the scene.
Evidence such as handprints and contact marks on the vehicle supported the OPP's findings. The report stated that both the TPS and defence analyses failed to consider the vehicle's safety features, leading to the initial discrepancies.
Timeline Analysis Disproves Collusion Claims
The OPP report also meticulously examined the timelines following the incident to assess the possibility of collusion between officers Correa and Pais. According to the investigation, both officers were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they spent three hours in a busy public waiting room surrounded by civilians and other officers.
From 4:42 a.m. until 8 a.m., they were at 52 Division, again surrounded by TPS employees. Witnesses confirmed that the officers were never left alone and did not engage in discussions that could suggest collusion. From 8 a.m. until 9:35 a.m., both officers provided separate statements to TPS homicide investigators.
The report concluded: "There was no evidence of collusion between the three officers that would support the reasonable belief that they colluded to lie. The fact that all three eyewitness officers testified they saw a similar sequence of events does not amount to evidence that they lied and/or colluded to lie."
Implications and Next Steps
Toronto Police were scheduled to address the report during a news conference on Tuesday afternoon. The findings are expected to have significant implications for the force, which has faced scrutiny over the handling of the case. The OPP's independent review provides a clear exoneration of the officers involved, reinforcing the integrity of their testimony and actions during the trial.
The report underscores the importance of thorough, independent investigations in addressing allegations of misconduct, particularly in high-profile cases involving law enforcement. As the legal and public discourse continues, the OPP's conclusions offer a definitive resolution to the collusion allegations that emerged during the Zameer trial.
