One of three accused Calgary police officers is expected to take the stand in their assault trial, but his testimony may be delayed for several months.
Defence lawyer Alain Hepner told Global News Wednesday that he and the other defence counsels will apply for an adjournment of the trial until later in 2017. He said they need more time to present their evidence in the case.
There was dramatic testimony Wednesday from Calgary police Const. Ryan MacPherson, who said he heard suspect Clayton Prince moaning in pain as other officers kneed and punched the 34-year-old while he was ground before and after he was handcuffed.
READ MORE: Witness officer testifies to ‘violent’ arrest of suspect by Calgary police
“It was extremely excessive — there was no need for that,” MacPherson told court.
MacPherson told court he was at the scene where several officers were arresting Prince after the man ran from a police traffic stop on MacLeod Trail in July 2016.
MacPherson also testified he saw one of the accused officers, Const. James Othen, take his police vehicle key and jam in Prince’s neck behind his ear as he lay handcuffed on the back seat of a police vehicle.
Under cross-examination, MacPherson said he had first reported that Prince was struck with the key on the right side of his neck. MacPherson admitted that was a mistake after seeing photos in the news of a wound on the left side of Prince’s neck.
Othen is charged with assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and public mischief for allegedly filing a false report about the arrest incident.
Prince suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs, cuts and bruises and spent five days in hospital being treated for his injuries.
READ MORE: Alberta police watchdog cites ‘dishonesty’ of Calgary officers charged with assault
Constables Mike Sandalack and Kevin Humfrey also each face a charge of assault causing bodily harm. Humfrey also faces a charge of public mischief.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigation alleges the officers lied by saying Prince resisted an officer when evidence suggests he did not.
ASIRT began investigating the case after the discovery of police dashcam video of the incident.
Various pieces of dashcam video are being played in court during the trial.
The Crown prosecutor is expecting to wrap up his presentation of evidence on Thursday. Then the defence team can call its witnesses, but that now may be postponed until a trial resumption date is set.
Watch below: A portion of video from Calgary Police Service vehicle dashcams that recorded parts of an alleged assault of a man by officers on July 30, 2016.
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