Arrests dating from 10 years ago come back to haunt agent Sanjay Vig: the defense attacked the police officer’s credibility by scrutinizing his work. He has no ethical or disciplinary stain on his record, insists the man who was allegedly the victim of an attempted murder two years ago.
The cross-examination of Sanjay Vig continued Monday in the jury trial of Ali Ngarukiye, accused of attempting to kill and disarm the SPVM agent.
On January 28, 2021, the police officer was hit in the head with a metal bar by his assailant. The latter had grabbed his weapon after a violent fight, leaving Sanjay Vig seriously injured.
According to the Crown’s theory, Ali Ngarukiye planned the attack on the police officer three days in advance. He allegedly stole vehicles by placing them in strategic locations.
Defense lawyer Me Sharon Sandiford followed up with Officer Vig regarding an arrest that occurred in 2018 in connection with an infraction of the Highway Safety Code. The police officer would have hastily handcuffed the motorist who was slow to provide identification proof and would have removed him from his car, the defense suggested.
The scene, filmed at the time by a surveillance camera, was presented to the jury. We see Sanjay Vig and a colleague intervene with the driver in question.
According to Vig, the intervention was not brutal, excessive or violent. “If he had been cooperative, I would not have handcuffed him,” he justified himself during cross-examination.
The defense asked him if he knew that the motorist had sought medical attention the next day for shoulder, elbow and ankle pain.
Sanjay Vig says he doesn’t remember being informed.
“I have no blemish on my record,” insisted Agent Vig. “People can say many things when they are not happy about being fined. I never pushed anyone.”
The defense suggested that a citizen had complained about being called a “faggot” during another arrest involving Sanjay Vig.
The police officer reacted strongly. “I mean no disrespect, but the man is a liar. This is completely false, ridiculous and outrageous. I am not homophobic,” the policeman insisted to the jury.
Everything he says are lies. [Cet homme] has serious problems. This man is fixated on me, he even called the media.
Sanjay Vig
The defense cited another incident from 10 years ago where Vig allegedly told a citizen to shut up. He denied being rude. “I don’t talk like that,” he replied to Me Sandiford.
He claims to have no memory of this motorist.
Two different versions
Mamadi Camara, a man in his 30s, was at the scene of the attempted murder after being arrested by Officer Vig on January 28, 2021. Mr. Camara had been wrongly arrested in connection with the attack and then finally exonerated.
Ali Ngarukiye will then be arrested a few months later for the attempted murder of the police officer.
Police officer Sanjay Vig once again defended himself Monday from having a version different from that of Mamadi Camara during his cross-examination. He never got angry with Mr. Camara despite the latter’s fury, he repeated to the jury.
“It’s boring to be told that you’re a liar knowing full well that yes, he was on the cell phone. […] It’s like being mistaken for a suitcase,” he stressed.
Mr. Camara had offered the jury a completely different story a few scenes ago. During his testimony, the man in his thirties told the jury that he remained courteous and calm. Sanjay Vig instead described a furious man who was screaming and had “knives in his eyes.” »
He denied during his cross-examination that he had his hand on his service weapon shortly before the attack.
“I suggest to you that this driver did not shout, that you tried to convince him that he had a cell phone while driving,” questioned Mr.e Sharon Sandiford, the defense attorney.
The trial led by Judge François Dadour continues this week at the Montreal courthouse.