Article content

Ottawa-Centre NDP MPP Joel Harden has apologized after making comments in the Ontario legislature last week suggesting Abdirahman Abdi’s death was racially motivated.

Harden made the remarks Thursday at Queen’s Park in a speech marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and while the Ottawa officer charged in Abdi’s death remains in the midst of trial.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Montsion defence warns against 'uninformed political meddling' as MPP apologizes after tying Abdi's death to 'systemic racism' Back to video

Const. Daniel Montsion has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in Abdi’s death. His trial commenced Feb. 5 and is scheduled to run until May.

“We have a deep respect for the sub judice principle, a rule of legal and constitutional convention that prohibits both counsel and politicians from commenting prejudicially on matters presently before the court,” Montsion’s defence team of Michael Edelson and Solomon Friedman wrote Sunday.

“This legal prohibition operates to ensure that trials are conducted on the basis of admissible evidence only, and are not influenced by uninformed political meddling. We will always abide by that rule and will make any statements about this matter in court and on the record, as required.”