Jury finds Zameer not guilty in Toronto police officer's death

A man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer has been found not guilty. More coming.

A man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer sobbed with relief on Sunday after a jury found him not guilty in the officer's death.

Umar Zameer and his family members burst into tears when the verdict was read out on the fourth day of jury deliberations. He had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Det. Const. Jeffrey Northrup, who died on July 2, 2021 after he was hit by a vehicle in an underground parking garage at Toronto City Hall.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw was seen hugging Northrop's widow after the verdict was announced.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy addressed Zameer briefly before exiting the courtroom, offering "my deepest apologies for what you've been through."

The fact that Zameer ran over Northrup and caused his death was not disputed during the trial. Rather, the case centred on whether Zameer meant to hit Northrup — or even knew it happened — and whether he knew Northrup and his partner were police officers.

In her final instructions to jurors on Thursday, Molloy said there were four possible verdicts based on the evidence: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, or not guilty of any offence.

The trial has heard Northrup and his partner, both plainclothes officers, approached Zameer’s car shortly after midnight as they were investigating a stabbing. Zameer was not involved in that stabbing.