Mayor Tremblay adds his voice to the groups supporting the Bennis family

Only the Police Brotherhood continues to try to block a public inquiry in the shooting of Anas

Monday May 10th, 10 AM

Immigrant Workers Center

4755 Van Horne, Suite 110

(Metro: Plamondon)

WITH:

Najlaa Bennis, sister of Anas;

Richard Bergeron, Projet Montréal;

Bita Eslami, Immigrant Workers Center;

Salam Elmenyawi, Muslim Council of Montreal;

Dan Philips, Black Coalition of Quebec

During the most recent Montreal City Council meeting, Mayor Gerald Tremblay stated that he wanted that “all light be shed as soon as possible” on the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Mohamed Anas Bennis, killed by Montreal police officer Yannick Bernier in december 2005. After a public inquiry was ordered by Quebec coroner-in-chief Louise Nolet in June 2008, the Montreal Police Brotherhood filed a motion with the goal of having the coroner’s inquest cancelled. Just as the hearings around this motion are about to resume this week, Mayor Tremblay adds his voice to those of Montrealers and community groups who support the Bennis family.

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PRESS RELEASE

Mayor Tremblay adds his voice to the groups supporting the Bennis family

Only the Police Brotherhood continues to try to block a public inquiry in the shooting of Anas

Montreal, May 10, 2010 -- During the last Montreal City Council meeting, Mayor Gerald Tremblay stated he wanted that “all light be shed as soon as possible” on the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of Mohamed Anas Bennis, killed by Montreal police officer Yannick Bernier on December 1st, 2005.

In response to a question relating to the necessity of a public inquiry into the death of Anas, Mayor Tremblay answered the following: "It was a tragic incident, and the family continues to suffer until all light is shed on this incident. And so, I wish, like you, and like all the members of the city council, that all light be shed as soon as possible." This statement by the mayor of Montreal coincides with the hearings dealing with the Montreal Police Brotherhood’s motion to cancel the public inquiry in this case resuming this week.

Indeed, after a public inquiry was ordered by Quebec coroner-in-chief Louise Nolet in June 2008, the Montreal Police Brotherhood filed a motion against Nolet and the coroner Catherine Rudel-Tessier (who was to preside over the public inquiry), with the goal of having it cancelled. This motion was finally initially heard in June 2009, and the hearings will continue on May 11, 2010.

In addition to the mayor of Montreal, Richard Bergeron, city councillor of Jeanne-Mance, continues to support that a public inquiry be held. “The Bennis family has been fighting for a public inquiry to find out what happened to Anas on December 1st, 2005, for almost 4 years now. Their wait has lasted too long”, said the leader of Projet Montréal.

Supported by dozens of community groups, the Bennis family denounces the actions of the Brotherhood as being an assault against the truth. “The Brotherhood’s motion simply adds questions for the Bennis family, and reveals the lack of good faith and transparency of the police. Why are they so adamant about preventing the inquiry from proceeding? Why don’t the police officers involved want to testify? It is a question of accountability and justice”, said Bita Eslami, coordinator at the Immigrant Workers Centre, based in the neighborhood of Côte-des-Neiges, where Anas was living when he was killed.

“Are we going to have to go to the Court of Appeal to finally have the right to a public inquiry, as happened in the case of Michel Berniquez?”, asked Najlaa Bennis, one of Anas’ sisters. The Quebec Court of Appeal recently overturned a Superior Court decision which had rendered a judgment in favor of a similar motion by the Montreal Police Brotherhood to cancel a public inquiry into Berniquez’s death. The Court of Appeal mandated that a public inquiry must proceed, seven years after Berniquez was killed during an intervention by the Montreal police in the neighborhood of Montreal-North.

Early in the morning of December 1st, 2005, 25-year old Mohamed Anas Bennis was coming home following morning prayers at a nearby mosque in the neighborhood of Côte-des-Neiges when he was killed following two gunshots fired by officer Yannick Bernier.

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