Coroner's inquest into Abdirahman Abdi's death to start Nov. 18

Next month, Ontario's Office of the Chief Coroner will start an inquest into the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi after a violent arrest by two Ottawa police officers.

The 37-year-oldSomali-Canadian,who struggled with his mental health,died following theconfrontationon July 24, 2016.

The initial call to police was aboutan altercation at a Hintonburg coffee shop wherea man wasreportedly grabbingwomen.

Const. Daniel Montsion was called to the scene as backup to another officer, Const. Dave Weir. Abdi ran away and Weir pursued him down the street, using pepper spray and striking him with his baton.

Montsion arrived at the scene andin the ensuing meleepunched Abdi several times in the head while wearing reinforced or "plated" gloves.

Officer not guilty, lawsuit settled

Montsionwas foundnot guilty of manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in 2020.Justice Robert Kelly said the Crown hadfailed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Montsion's actions caused Abdi's death.

Ottawa police said in 2021they hadreached a settlement with Abdi's family over a $1.5 million lawsuit. The city's police board said details of the agreement wouldn't be made public.

Abdi's deathspawned a movement, driven in part by the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition, that led to increasingly loud calls to reform and defund police.

The inquest, which the coroner's office said is mandatory under the Coroners Act,was called in March. The office announced Friday it will start Nov. 18, and it is expected to last 21 days and should hear from about 25 witnesses.

The coroner's office said it holds inquests before a jury "to inform the public about the circumstances of a death." Any recommendations from the jury are non-binding and are meant to prevent further deaths.

Recent examples includethe 2015 murders of three womenin and around rural Renfrew County, andSammy Yatim'sfatal shootingby a former Toronto police officer in 2013.

Lawrence Greenspon, the lawyer for the family in thelawsuit settled in 2021, told CBCwhen the inquest was announcedthe family hopes itlooks at the handling of 911 calls, mental health triage and training,andde-escalation.