Accused in second-degree murder trial of longboarder in Toronto speaks in court

TORONTO — The jury in the second-degree murder trial of Ethiopian-born cab driver Adib Ibrahim, 47, heard from the accused himself on Thursday.

Ibrahim is charged with intentionally running over a longboarder on King Street East on May 14, 2012. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. 

The victim, Ralph Bissonnette, from Coaticook, Que., was 28 years old at the time of his death and working in the restaurant business in Toronto.

“It just happened so fast. I wanted to stop, I wanted to steer. It was just too fast,” Ibrahim told the jury while becoming emotional.

“I couldn’t lift my leg. It just got stuck. I couldn’t even move … I couldn’t react, I just froze there.”

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That’s when the court called for a recess. A video was also played in court showing the final moments of Bissonnette’s life just before he was run over, that appears to show words exchanged between the victim and the accused.

Police said Ibrahim swerved from the passing lane to the curb lane, hitting the longboarder, snapping his longboard in two. But Ibrahim said he heard nothing.

A series of photographs were shown to the jury, taken by a camera inside the taxi.

READ MORE: Toronto taxi driver charged with murder in skateboarder’s death released on bail

Ibrahim said they prove the windows of his vehicle were closed.

They also show his last fare before the incident, a customer he picked up at the Sheraton on Queen Street and drove to the Distillery District.

From there, Ibrahim drove north on Parliament Street, west on King Street East, heading toward a mosque for afternoon prayers, he said.

This is the first day the defence has been able to make its case.

For his part, Crown attorney Hank Goody has said Ibrahim had no reason to swerve other than to target Bissonnette.

The trial continues.