Abdirahman Abdi showed no aggression during arrest, witness testifies

Abdirahman Abdi was evasive but not aggressive toward police before he lost consciousness during his violent arrest, a witness told court Tuesday.

Wendy Dunford is the first Crown witness to testifythey sawAbdi try to avoidpolice, then take several blows to the head and body before he stopped moving.

The 37-year-oldwas declared dead in hospital on July 25, 2016, the day after his arrest.

Ottawa police Const. Daniel Montsionhas pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in Abdi's death.

• 'Unjustified' punches caused Abdirahman Abdi's death, Crown begins
• Montsion did not cause Abdi's injuries, defence argues

"I never saw Mr. Abdi make an aggressive move toward either police officer," Dunford told the court."But he wasn't compliant."

Abdi carried weightedmat

Duford and her husband, Ross McGhie, were walking home after finishingtheir Sunday morning run when they saw Abdi running down Wellington Street W.toward Hilda Street.

He was carrying a13.6-kilogramrubber mat used to weigh down temporary street signsover his head.

Dunford said Abdi was being followed by a police officer who shouted forhim tostop, but the pursuit wasn't fast-paced.

"He was just kind of plodding along," Dunford said.

The officer, Const. Dave Weir, was trying tohit Abdiwith his baton, she said, and Abdi was using the rubber mat as ashield.

At one point, Dunfordsaid,Weir pushed Abdi hard enough that Abdi dropped to the ground.

She watched as Abdi got to the doorof his apartment building, where Weir struckhim with his baton several times.

From her vantage point about 40 metres away, Dunford said Abdididn't appear to fight back.

Punches were 'excessive'

It wasn't long beforeConst. Montsion arrived, she said.

She told Crown prosecutor Phillip Perlmutter she didn't see Montsionpause before he joined the altercation and beganpunching Abdi.

She testifiedMontsion punchedAbdi five to 10 times in his head and neck, though video evidence shows Montsion initially punching Abdi only twice.

• CBC EXPLAINS |Why none of the videos showing thearrest may ever be shown in court

Abdithen fell to the ground, and Dunford saidshe couldn't see much of what happened next.

Defence counsel Solomon Friedman asked Dunford if she thought the force was excessive.

"Given that [Abdi] had not shown any aggression, that he was unarmed and they had him more or less cornered, yes," she said.

Dunford's testimony is expected to continue Wednesday.