In a highly emotional courtroom scene, Umar Zameer and his family members were overcome with relief on Sunday as a jury pronounced him not guilty in the death of Toronto Police Detective Constable Jeffrey Northrup. Northrup tragically lost his life on July 2, 2021, after being struck by a vehicle in an underground parking garage at Toronto City Hall.
The verdict, delivered after four days of deliberation, prompted tears of relief from Zameer and his loved ones. Zameer, who had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, was acquitted of all charges.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw was seen offering solace to Northrup’s widow following the announcement of the verdict.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy expressed her condolences to Zameer before leaving the courtroom, acknowledging the ordeal he had endured.
During the trial, it was undisputed that Zameer’s vehicle struck Northrup, resulting in his tragic death. However, the central question before the court was whether Zameer had intended to strike Northrup or was aware that he had done so, and whether he knew that Northrup and his partner were police officers.
In her instructions to the jury, Justice Molloy outlined four possible verdicts based on the evidence presented: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, or a verdict of not guilty.
Testimony during the trial revealed that Northrup and his partner, both plainclothes officers, had approached Zameer’s vehicle in the course of investigating a stabbing incident. Zameer, who was not involved in the stabbing, was outside his car when the officers approached.
According to Det. Const. Lisa Forbes, Northrup’s partner, she repeatedly identified herself as a police officer as they approached Zameer’s vehicle. Despite her efforts, Zameer accelerated his vehicle, striking Northrup, before fleeing the scene. Zameer was apprehended shortly thereafter when his vehicle was intercepted by an unmarked police van.
Both Zameer and his wife testified that they believed they were under attack when the officers approached their vehicle. Zameer stated that he accelerated to escape the perceived threat, unaware that he had struck Northrup until after his arrest.
Expert testimony presented during the trial supported Zameer’s account, suggesting that Northrup was struck by the vehicle after it had begun to reverse. Furthermore, security footage from the parking garage revealed that Northrup’s body appeared suddenly in front of Zameer’s vehicle, indicating that he may have been dragged or pushed beneath the car.
In their closing arguments, Crown prosecutors contested the defense’s version of events, maintaining that Northrup was struck while standing behind a pillar and out of view of the security camera. However, the trial judge ultimately concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support this theory.
The jury’s verdict of not guilty reflects their assessment of the evidence presented during the trial, affirming Zameer’s innocence in the tragic death of Detective Constable Jeffrey Northrup.