Evidence in the trial of a man accused of running over Toronto police ended Friday

Evidence in the trial of a man accused of running over a Toronto police officer three years ago wrapped up Friday, with the defense calling its final witness to the stand.

Uma Zamir has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Det. Const. Geoffrey Northrup.

The officer died on July 2, 2021, after being struck by a car in a parking garage below Toronto City Hall.

Const. Ryan D'Souza, who was a member of the 52nd Major Crimes Unit the night of the incident, was on the stand Friday.

The officer said he and his partner were responding to a stabbing call near Nathan Phillips Square when they received an emergency call over the radio from Const. Sharnil Pais, one of the officers who arrested Zamir.

D'Souza testified that when he arrived at the parking lot, he saw significant damage to an unmarked police van and noticed two badly damaged parking arms. He also said he saw a man on his knees, handcuffed with his face polished. He said Pais carefully read Zamir after reading the accused his rights to counsel.

D'Souza explained that he asked Zamir what happened and the accused told him that he did not know Const and explained what happened in the underground garage. Northrup and his partner were police officers and saw no sign of them.

During cross-examination by the Crown, D'Souza said Zamir did not appear to be in poor health.

Closing statements are expected on Tuesday.

on thursday Zamir tearfully apologized to the man's family said in court that he did not want to offend the officer and that he wanted it back.

“I wish it hadn't happened,” he said, adding that as a father of three, he understands the bond between father and son and can't imagine the pain Const. Children of Northrup.

“I am very sorry. “I didn't want to hurt your father.” “I wish I could take it back.”

On the stand, Zameer recounted the events that led to Const. Death of Northrups.

Zamir said he thought his family was about to be robbed at the time. He described how an unknown man and woman got into the family's BMW and ran up to the car and started hitting the car.

Zamir said he did not see the officer trying to leave the underground parking lot. He said he felt he had run over a speed bump, not a person, until the arresting officers told him what had happened.

The court had previously held that Const. Northrup and his partner – both plainclothes – were investigating the stabbing when they entered the underground garage. Zamir was not involved in the stabbing.

Crown prosecutors accused Zamir of choosing to perform a series of maneuvers with his car that caused Const. Northrup's death, but the defense says the officer's death was a tragedy.

Defense attorneys said neither Zamir nor his wife, who was eight months pregnant at the time, knew the men who approached them in the vacant garage were police officers. At that time, their two-year-old son was with them.

With files from 680 News Radio Toronto