All language subtitles for Coroner.01E06.WEBRip.x264-TBS

It is my mission as the coroner

to speak for the dead

so that we can protect the living.

My office made mistakes.

I'm officially reopening
all of the cases

of former pathologist Dr. Ian Peterson.

Effective immediately.

Every lawyer with a convicted murderer

in the past 10 years

is about to file an appeal.
That's my work you're undoing.

Liam!

Are you, are you and my mom...?

Liam is a good guy and I was lonely!

Dad is dead!
You are supposed to be lonely!

I just need to get out of here.
I have to go.

That was our dog?

Arski. What a good boy he was.

Gail Pullman, 58,

delusional.

Drop the weapon!

Drop it and get down on the ground!

Logan Wojcik, 28...

Put the weapon down.

Kofi Abanda, 34.

Past, minor drug offenses...

Stand back!

Tested positive for amphetamines.

Stand back, drop your weapon!

Maybe that's why
the tasers didn't work.

Taser deployed at 15 feet,

but the gun discharged at 8.

It doesn't make sense.

Dr. Cooper? Dr. Cooper?

Oh, uh...

I'm just reviewing uh,
the cases for today.

Visualizing - it's a common
performance technique,

It's used by athletes
and surgeons and...

what's up?

You told me to grab you when it's time.

It's time.

Already?

You want me to pull the fire alarm?

Okay...

Uh... where are we with the
body chart that I requested?

We got the most
professional of apologies,

and a guarantee that it'll
be here this morning.

Okay, that's good.

It's normal to be nervous.

No, I'm not... I'm not nervous.

Sure you are.
Nobody likes their first inquest.

It's a huge responsibility.

You're basically saying,
these people died,

and I'll make it never happen again.

Uh... good luck.

All rise!

Be seated please!

This Coroner's Inquest
is now in session,

Dr. Jennifer Cooper presiding.

Morning.

Do you know why I
stopped you here today?

I'm sure I don't.

You failed to come to a complete stop

in the allotted zone just back before

the intersection at Avenue and Wilson.

And which intersection was that?

I noticed you following
me through a few.

Pardon me, sir?

- Have you been drinking?
- It's 9:00 am.

Why don't you go ahead
and get your licence

and registration for me.

My apologies, Sir. I...

I didn't realize you were on the job.

I am. And now I'm late for court.

Ah, geez, well,
let's just get you on your way.

You have a good day.
Again, my apologies, sir.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where you going?

I thought you said I
rolled a red back there?

How about you do your job?

If I did in fact break the
law, as you claim,

I expect you to write me a ticket.

Let's go! Hurry up, I'm late.

Come on.

As the jury,
you have the unique opportunity

to give voice to the dead
through this inquest.

Each of these cases concern an
Emotionally Disturbed Person,

whose encounter with
Police resulted in death.

In each of these cases
you'll be asked to assign

a verdict of accidental,

natural, suicide, homicide,

or undetermined death.

You'll also be asked
to give recommendations

that may assist in preventing
a similar death in the future.

Crown Counsel is Leigh Marks,

and Rory Durham is here

on behalf of the Toronto
Police Association.

We'll begin with case one,

the shooting death of Kofi Abanda.

Our first witness is Det. Taylor Kim.

Detective Taylor Kim,
Toronto Homicide Division.

Aside from my duties as an investigator,

I also teach Use-of-Force
Training at the academy.

Could you please describe
this for our Jury?

Certainly.

It's the process of
learning when and where

lethal force may be applied.

Regulation 926,
Subsection 9 of the Police Services Act

states that a member of a police force

shall not draw,
point or discharge their firearm

unless he or she believes,
on reasonable grounds,

that to do so is necessary

to protect against loss
of life or bodily harm.

And would that apply in this case?

Unfortunately, yes.

In the event of an EDP,

emotionally disturbed person,

they're not always able to comply,

which leads to escalation

if officers are
confronted with violence.

And in the Use-of-Force training,

are officers taught to de-escalate?

Of course, it's part of the training,

but it's not always
practical in the field.

In your opinion,
could this incident have seen a...

different outcome?

Having reviewed the evidence

and the statements from
the officers involved,

a different outcome was very unlikely.

Uh, thank you, Det. Kim.

If there are no further questions,

please excuse the witness.

Prepare the next witness please.

Please state your name
and occupation for the Jury?

Constable Peter Bell, 10th Division.

Could you give us your account

of the night Kofi Abanda was killed?

Yes, sir.

Myself and my partner,
Constable Scott Deveaux,

were patrolling an area
that had been experiencing

a high volume of disturbances.

We came upon Mr. Abanda
in an industrial zone

adjacent Cherry Street.

He was making a lot of
noise, so we approached him.

We identified ourselves,
asked if he needed assistance.

He was immediately hostile.

It was clear that he was on something.

He later tested positive
for amphetamines.

But he wouldn't comply.

We gave him space,

but then he reached for
a weapon and came at us,

and we were forced to
use lethal measures.

You tasered Mr. Abanda, correct?

I did. I deployed a
conductive energy weapon,

hitting him centre mass.

But that didn't slow him even a little.

He kept coming.

He displayed "excited delirium."

And that's when my partner
fired his service weapon.

UGH!

Now,
the "weapon" Mr. Abanda reached for

turned out to be a musical instrument?

Correct. It was a trumpet.

And did you consider the trumpet

an immediate threat to cause you harm?

It was dark,
we couldn't tell what it was.

Hindsight is 20-20,

but we were afraid for our lives.

Look, we didn't want Kofi to die.

- Everything was by the book.
- Enough lying!

Kofi did nothing wrong!

- You murdered my son!
- Please

This is unacceptable, Madam Coroner.

- You can't allow this.
- I'm very sorry, Ma'am.

- How can you sit there and lie?!
- I got this, I got this.

Hey, Ms. Kenia.

Van?

I still can't believe Kofi is gone...

Thank you.

Hey. Um...
well, a caution's been issued,

but Ms. Kenia will be allowed
to return to the courtroom.

Thank you, Van. I'm so sorry.

No, you have nothing to be sorry
for, Ms. Kenia.

Nonsense, Van.

I remember when you
used to call me Mama.

Yes, thank you, Donovan.

I'm surprised to see you here.

You need to come back to church, Van.

The kids need to see you there.

Well, I'm here, so,
if you need anything...

We needed you a year and a half ago.

It was a conflict of interest.

I wasn't allowed anywhere near the case.

Sorry, Ms. Abanda,

may we speak in private for
moment, please?

- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.

Things were missed from the beginning.

We're just gonna go to my office.

Ms. Abanda, I want you to speak

for your brother, Kofi, for today.

But for us to do that,

your questions can't show any bias.

Well, Madam Coroner,
the only bias in this court

is the systemic targeting of
Black and Indigenous people.

I don't disagree.

I support any and all discussions

on the imbalances in our system

when it comes time for recommendations.

But today is about the
facts in this case.

Kofi fell in with stupid
people when he was young.

He had a problem with drugs.

He pulled himself up, and out,

to become a good, honest man.

Yet still, he dies needlessly
at the hands of police.

Fact.

What Dr. Cooper is asking
is that we all work together

and try to stay within the
purview of the inquest.

My family and I have been
through endless court dates,

review boards, appeals.

Most times we couldn't get investigators

to return our calls.

Do you have children, Dr. Cooper?

I do. Uh...

I have a 17-year-old son.

My son's 15,

and I'm terrified for him every day.

So for his sake,
I try not to leave anything

outside my purview.

Cst. Deveaux, you and Cst.
Bell both claim

the Taser was deployed at 15 feet?

Yes, give or take.

And how present a threat was
Mr. Abanda at that distance?

Madam Coroner, asked and answered.

That's all right.
I don't think people quite understand

what someone hopped up on snap is like.

15 feet's pretty close at that point.

He displayed "excited delirium".

Madam Coroner, Ms.
Imani Abanda is prepared

to question the witness.

Constable Deveaux.

Senior Constable Scott Deveaux.

My apologies. You did mention
your exemplary record earlier?

I did.

I've reviewed it myself.

Commendations for merit, bravery...

very impressive.

But could we also review
the section of your record

with the abnormal amounts
of complaints against you?

Cst. Deveaux will not
be answering that question.

His record is not under review today.

Please stay within the
scope, Ms. Abanda.

Had you stopped Kofi before?

I don't recall.

I obtained records that
show Kofi had been carded

more than a dozen times.

Several times by you alone.

The witness won't be answering that.

Madam Coroner,

are career patterns of
misconduct and profiling

not relevant to Kofi's death?

I would have to agree.

The witness may answer.

I do not recall.

That's quite all right.
I would, though,

like to discuss my
brother's trumpet next.

It was our father's.
It was almost as old as Kofi.

He played it every day, for hours.

It was precious to him.

And because of this,

I'm completely certain he
would never have endangered it,

let alone used it as a weapon.

I'm happy to note Ms. Abanda's opinion

and move on,

Madam Coroner.

The body chart.

Thank you.

The horn was up in his right
hand, to attack,

when he was tasered?

Yet, one prong hit Kofi
in his right bicep.

Can... can you explain that?

No.

I... I don't need to explain it.

Right hand, left hand,
what's the difference?

That's what happened.

Both you and Cst.
Bell both put the trumpet

in his right hand,

and now you're claiming it
could have been in his left?

The witness won't be answering that.

Things happen fast at that range.

He was a moving target. He displayed...

Excited delirium?

You're telling me "excited delirium"

is a common expression?

They didn't mention
it in their statements

during the SIU investigation.

I'm just saying it's not uncommon

for witnesses to rehearse.

And the Taser?

I mean, they said that they
fired it at 15 feet, but...

but the prongs should continue to widen

the farther they travel.

And the contact points on Kofi's chart,

they were so close together, it just...

we need to pause.

We need to pause, we need to take second

and we need to find out the facts here.

I just...

Inform all parties that we're
adjourning for 48 hours.

Oh, I get to do that?

Amazing!

Can I help you, Officer?

Wow, that obvious?

Thought I'd at least pass for an
old funk bassist or something.

Try again.

You must be Z-Ro.

Record producer who
worked with Kofi Abanda.

All right, how about an introduction?

I'm Det. Donovan McAvoy.

That's it!

I was trying to place you.

- Donovan, yeah.
- We know each other?

Nah, but you played ball with my cousin

like a 100 years ago.

I used to watch y'all
up at Baycrest Park.

- Man, you played a slick 3rd base.
- Hmm.

Been recording Imani and Kofi from time.

Imani used to always sit
in that corner to write.

Called it the "flow point".

That was Kofi's spot.

How'd you say you knew him again?

Oh, I grew up around Imani and Ms.
Kenia.

Kofi was this nappy-headed kid
always chilling in the corner.

Yeah, man, he never changed.

He liked to be out the
way, keep to himself.

Look,

I know he had some problems
with drugs in the past.

Was he having any
trouble that you knew of?

Nah. Kofi been clean for years.

Smoked a little weed, but nothing else.

Not even a drop of liquor.

His tox screen from that night

- put Get Ups in his system.
- Nah, man. Not possible.

Kofi didn't touch any of that stuff.

And we did great work that night.

You should listen.

Man.

- Sick, right?
- Yeah.

- That's nice.
- Mm!

- Talented, man.
- Right? Ridiculous.

- Why are they so short?
- They're reference tracks.

Kofi would get an idea,

record it to his phone,
and upload it to the cloud.

Most times he didn't
even mean to upload 'em.

His phone would update
and I'd spend half a day

sifting through throw-away riffs.

And this one? That's also
from the night he died, right?

Mm. It's a throw-away, but I kept it

'cause it's the last
thing he ever sent me.

You mind running that back again?

One more time.

I think I hear something.

What'd I say, Bivvy? Just shut it.

Come on, just let him.

Can you lift that train sound out?

I can lower it.

What'd I say, Bivvy? Just shut it!

Come on, just let him.

I'm gonna need that recording.

You're adjourning?

Dr. Cooper, this is outrageous.

Well, we can't proceed
until I'm satisfied

with all the facts that
I'm presented with.

These officers have been
through an SIU inquiry,

they're on desk duty.

They need this resolved.

You're the coroner, not the Pope.

Well, I didn't know
that job was available.

- Sorry to interrupt...
- Hi.

but I'm wondering if you're
done harassing my boss?

Dr. Cooper, may I borrow you a minute?

Yeah.

Good God, thank you

Don't thank me yet.
We have another problem.

Do two people still count as a sit-in?

This delay will lead to another delay,

then another and another,

until our case is buried
under a pile of new ones.

Ms. Abanda, I can assure you

that is the furthest
from our intentions here.

Okay, I... I only want the truth.

Then why are you letting
those officers lie to you?

My brother hasn't touched
anything like that

since he was young.

And even then he never messed with PCP.

He was so docile.

You know, just numb sometimes.

He'd never even raised
his voice at anyone.

So what they're saying...
he just couldn't.

Imani, we are not resuming today.

I understand, but we intend to wait.

Do you want us to remove them?

No, thank you.

Please give Ms.
Abanda and her mother some space.

I need you to run a name,

and broad search Bivvy, Biv,
Bivins or anything like it.

Could be a cop, a CI,
codename, nickname, whatever.

Nothing?

Yeah.

All right, keep searching.

Call me back if you find anything.

No, I'm good all good, Malik.

Is that why I'm here, Mac?

You know Deveaux and Bell, right?

Sure, mostly just Pete Bell.

What's Pete's deal?

Enh. He'a decent cop,
tragic softball player.

Seriously, the guy's positionless.

Everybody knows he's a
complete flunky of Deveaux's.

It's like high school with these morons.

Pranks and shit.
Like they egg each other on.

You know if Bell ever
gets called "Bivvy"?

Hmm.

Bivvy's another cop. Seth Fuller.

Who's he to them?

He's plainclothes now,
but he came up with them.

The three of them got
pinned with the nickname

Bell-Biv-Devoe. You know?

I gotta go.

Cool. Sure you don't
want this dog though?

Nah. It's all yours, Malik.

Why are you so
fascinated with Kofi's heart?

I'm not sure,

but the cops taser story
doesn't make sense.

You're right about the distance.

We've done six tests,

each time the impact points of the barbs

are way wider than on Kofi's body chart.

But what does that prove?

That the barbs land further apart

on a completely flat, stationary target?

Well, if Dr. Allen's up for it,

I am more than happy to start
testing on a moving target.

Nah.

I just had an irate
call from Police Services.

Well,
there were some glaring questions,

so adjourned for two days.

They're filing an injunction
to kill your inquest.

Wha-I mean, come on,
they're, they're posturing.

T-those tissue samples are suppressed.
Put them away!

Back in the box they go.

Like those DVD's you got me.

So, tell me exactly what recommendations

are you expecting from this inquest?

That the police place a greater emphasis

on de-escalation training.

That would be a really great outcome.

Here's what I see: You've
lost your courtroom.

And you've separated this
case from the inquest

in such a way that the other two cases

may well not be heard.

Maybe they should be separated.

Ooh, you're gonna be
my "Cause of Death."

- Bryan...
- No, no. Jenny...

figure it out by tomorrow morning

or I'm taking over your inquest.

And make sure those samples are secured,

they're Kofi's.

You aware Imani and Ms.
Kenia are still in your courtroom?

I am. Do you mind if we walk and talk?

'Kay. What's with the cloak and dagger?

Uh...

Imani said that Kofi was
numb, that he was docile.

- Okay.
- Okay, well, Methcathinone

can look like amphetamines

by their virtually identical structure.

- Sure.
- So I uh...

I need a urine test kit.

I did some follow up on Kofi.

There's another witness.

Another cop was there the
night Kofi died. Seth Fuller.

I'm taking a ride now to go talk to him.

Okay, well,
if this is about the inquest,

I'm, I'm coming with you.

I just, I-I need to make
a stop along the way.

All right.

You can even bring your creepy cooler.

- It's not creepy.
- Oh, it's creepy.

Daddy!

You okay?

Hey.

Yeah.

Yeah, no, I'm fine.

King City is a long way from Toronto.

Some cops like the separation.

Oh! Whoa! Shit.

Leave us the hell alone!

Three seconds to tell me who you are.

Det. Donovan McAvoy

and Dr. Jenny Cooper, Coroner.

Can you put that gun down, please?

ID... Slow.

Hey, hey.

What can we do for you?

Seth Fuller? We need to talk to you.

What about?

There's a Coroner's Inquest in Toronto

involving a couple of your friends,

Scott Deveaux, Pete Bell.

Yeah, all right.

But just you, not her.

So... what's this about?

There was a shooting
about 15 months ago.

Kofi Abanda ring a bell?

- Nope.
- You sure?

I have a recording that
says different... Bivvy.

Hear any bells now?

I know you were there. You saw it all.

Why are you covering for these guys?

I'm not covering.

He and Pete Bell threaten you?

That why your pregnant wife's
on the porch with a shotgun?

The fact that the dog was real

may change what it represents entirely.

Okay, but why don't I remember him?

You had this episode, impending doom,

when unable to take your Ativan.

And at the same time,
you let Ross run off to Muna's.

This dog may be a manifestation
of fear towards yourself.

What, like, I'm the dog? That's like...

Try to think of it less literally.

I mean, Arski was his name, he was real.

And that doesn't explain
why my dad lied to me

about shooting him.

I know you wanna talk to me, Seth.

I can see it eating at you.

Just tell me the truth.

Did Kofi attack them?

I should never have been there.

Seth, did Kofi attack them?

No.

- Say again?
- No.

No, he didn't.

He just wanted to put his trumpet away.

But Scott was screwing with him,

so I... all I said was, let him.

Let him put the horn in the case.

He thought he got the okay
and he reached down and...

something shined inside the case

and shots went off.

It was the mouthpiece to the horn.

Scott was saying he had a gun.

Pete was freaking out,
it was a goddamn shitshow.

What happened after that?

Checked his pulse.

He was gone.

So I said we needed to call it in,

and that's when they...
they gave me an out.

They told me to leave,
like I was never there,

like...

they'd handle it.

So I left.

You're going to say exactly
what you just told me,

to the Crown Attorney, tomorrow.

- I... I can't.
- Too late.

The "can't" train has already left.

And I'll see you at the courthouse

AT 9:00 AM sharp,

or I'm coming to get you myself.

The worst part is you...

you had all this time
to do the right thing.

Neil, I'm gonna have to call you back.

Jenny,
let's make an appointment next time.

Mm-hmm. Yup.

- Hey!
- Mom?

Hey, honey. Uhm.

Thanks for calling me back.

Well, I mean,
you called a million times, so...

Well... I mean, no, I didn't
call a million times, I just...

Look, uhm.

- I'm actually kinda busy right now.
- I know,

I just wanted to know if
you had put anymore thought

into coming home.

I mean the house is way
scarier without you in it.

I love you, Mom.

- Uh...
- I have to go.

Okay, love. Uh...

I'll talk to you soon?

- Okay, bye.
- Okay, bye.

- How's Ross?
- He's good.

Yeah, he's uh... he's good, he's good.

It wasn't excited
delirium, he was depressed.

Kofi was on antidepressants, not PCP.

I just tested his tissue samples.

Scott and his partner got
lucky with a false positive,

but this is... this is something.

We got everything.

What do you mean, everything?

It, it means...

I'm starving. You hungry?

I mean,
we could've gone the entire inquest

without even knowing Seth existed.

How did you know to talk
to the record producer?

Well, I've been doing this a long time.

I saw the looks between
you and Kofi's sister

in the court today.

Is that why you're doing it?

Why're you doing this...

toting around your creepy cooler...

It's not creepy.

Oh, it's creepy.

Hiding from your boss,
doing urine kits in my car?

I don't know.

Okay. It's like...

people don't trust that I can do my job.

That's why the Abandas are
still sitting in my courtroom.

It's why my boss wants to replace me.

Oh, and my son... my son is so mad at me

that he is staying with his
Grandmother right now, so...

- Shit.
- Yeah.

- You're batting a 1000.
- Mm-hmm.

We're from the same
area, the Abandas and me.

Ms. Kenia was always good to me.

You know, right around
the time I became a cop,

people started treating me different...

everyone but them.

They never changed up on me,

but I still stopped coming around.

I wanted to make things better first.

Change things, help the community grow.

Then I'd be welcomed back.

I was gonna be a hero.

Yo, yo, there's that
guy, he fixed everything,

brought the cops and the
community together and...

I didn't even know Kofi died
until a month or so after.

It hit me pretty hard.

It's not just that.

Part of me was hoping I'd find out

that Kofi had attacked those cops,

and had no one else
but himself to blame.

That's why I went to the inquest.

How messed up is that?

Who am I protecting, if not them?

Here's to Kofi.

To Kofi.

Jenny, these damn raccoons
never take a night off.

Ugh...

Sonofab...

Can I help you officers?

Do you have any ID on you, sir?

Why?

We got a call about a
disturbance in the area,

fits your description.

Is that so?

This is my home. Let me step
inside and get you some ID...

So, no ID?

You know what,
we're about to search you.

Do you mind stepping towards me, please?

Hands above your head, please.
Lock your fingers.

- I'm on the job.
- Where's your shield?

He's clean.

Must have the wrong guy.

Have a good night, Det. McAvoy.

Hey! Somehow our last bottle's empty.

Should we open another one?

You know, uh, why don't we just...
call it a night,

and get an early start in the morning.

Yeah, sure.

- You okay?
- Yeah, yeah, just... tired.

Uh, I'll call you a cab and...
fix you a plate to go.

Okay.

Knock, knock.

Hey!

Oh, dear God, thank you.

I just go by Donovan.

Ready to do this?

Yup. Let's just hope he shows.

Do you know them?

I was intoxicated
yesterday when we spoke.

Anything you perceive
I said is incorrect.

Don't do this, Seth.

I'll be filing a complaint
against you for your conduct.

I don't know what game you're
playing, Officer Fuller,

but I can get a motion to compel,

and you will testify.

You can talk to my lawyer.

Hey. Hey, where are you going?

I'm about to go make Deveaux confess.

I know... I... I know you're angry,

but let me get an official tox
screen for the anti-depressants.

No jury's gonna care about tox
screens, jazz recordings

- or your taser charts.
- I think they will care.

No offense, Jenny, but I've been around.

There's two ways this ends up,

either tied up and drowned
in bureaucratic bullshit,

or another medal pinned on
Deveaux for a good shoot.

Just wait.

When Seth told you what
happened the night Kofi died,

did he... did he mention the Taser?

No.

Okay. Just do me a favour
and don't do anything

until I call you later.

- Sure.
- Okay.

What are you doing with Kofi's heart!

Dwayne, it's okay. Uh...

Uh, I couldn't get my
head around the position

of the Taser barbs on Kofi's chart.

I mean, the-the cops,

they would've had to have
been standing so close.

But it wasn't that they
were standing close,

they were standing over him.

He was lying down when
they tased him from above.

That's why the impact points
are grouped like that.

Why was he lying down?

They did it to support their story,

but what they didn't account for...

was the confetti
discharge from the taser.

It went into his chest wound

and ended up in his heart,

before it stopped pumping.

Holy shit.

It's proof that they shot Kofi first

and then tased him to
cover up a bad shoot.

Oh! Ungh!

McAvoy?

What're you doing at my house?

I saw you in court yesterday.

Is this about that?

Hey, c'mon, bro.

Look, we've both been around the block,

we know what's what.

Blue counts on blue.

There's enough animals out
there trying to kill us,

we don't need to worry about
our own coming after us too.

What're you doing?

You shouldn't have slashed me like that.

- What?
- That's my story.

This how it's done, right?
Isn't this how you do it?

Hey, hold on, man.
I-I didn't murder Kofi,

it was, it was a tragic accident.

No, I said this is how you do it, right?

I didn't say you attacked me first?

I-I feared for my life. I had no choice.

Please, brother. My wife's inside.

- Your wife?
- Ungh!

You didn't give a shit
about Kofi's family.

Why should I give a shit about yours?

Because we're both blue, brother?

The name's Detective Donovan McAvoy,

and I'll be seeing you real soon.

I got your message.

You have it?

Mm-hmm. Heart confetti.

Counsel's filing the paperwork

to turn it over to the Crown.

Heart confetti...

you incredible nut!

We got 'em.

Imani.

Well, it is in the
hands of the Crown now.

Yeah, they're gonna open a new case

with all the new evidence.

He'll get justice. I promise.

I hope you understand
if we reserve judgement

until that promise comes true?

Still, for now, it's something.

I'm sorry I haven't been around, Mama K.

You're gonna see me more.

Thank you, Van.

Thank you.

Van, come through.

The people need to see your face.

All right, come on.

Well, you were right to look deeper.

Yeah, well, he shouldn't have died.

The police need to be
trained to de-escalate.

That's gonna be my first recommendation.

You know, recommendations
like that came before you,

and most likely they'll
come again after you.

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