Sammy Yatim asked a TTC janitor to call the police three times shortly before he boarded the Dundas streetcar on July 26, 2013.

Less than an hour later, he was shot eight times by Const. James Forcillo on the empty streetcar. The jury has heard passengers panicked and fled the streetcar after seeing Yatim holding a four-inch switchblade in his right hand.

Forcillo has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder.

Anthony Sampogna testified that Yatim approached him on the lower level of Dundas station and asked him where the exits were and for a phone to use.

Sampogna told him he didn’t have a phone and suggested using a payphone or asking someone else. Yatim, who appeared anxious and restless, then asked if he had any change. When Sampogna said he did not, Yatim started to remove his backpack and reach inside, his hands shaking.

Sampogna testified in cross-examination that he was concerned Yatim was going to remove a weapon.

Then Yatim asked him to call the police.

“He was very authoritative, very demanding,” said Sampogna. “He started shaking, mostly his hands, and he said ‘call the police, call the police.’”

Sampogna explained he’d need to ask a fare collector and, followed by Yatim, took the escalator to the upper level of the station.

But Yatim suddenly left the station — and the jury has seen video of Yatim boarding the westbound streetcar.

The jury also heard from a toxicologist who found Yatim had a “moderate to moderately-high” level of ecstasy in his blood when he died.

Inger Bugyra told the court that Yatim had 0.62 mg/l of ecstasy in his blood when he died. Unlike with alcohol, she explained, it is not possible to determine how much of the drug Yatim consumed and when he consumed it. Ecstasy can remain in the blood for around 35 hours, she said.

Bugyra testified that a small amount of a cocaine metabolite was found in Yatim’s blood, likely indicating cocaine consumption in the prior 48 hours. She noted the cocaine might have come from filler in ecstasy tablets. A small amount of THC was also found in Yatim’s blood, she said, indicating marijuana use a day before.

Bugyra testified that a piece of paper found on Yatim’s person had residue of ecstasy, THC and PMMA, a substance similar to ecstasy but more toxic.

Relatively rare but possible side-effects of a high level of ecstasy in the blood include agitation, panic attacks, nervousness, aggression and psychosis, Bugyra said. The drug can also increase heart rate and blood pressure, as well as increasing body temperature.

There could also be an increase in overall muscle tension which may cause jaws or fists to clench, cause slurring of speech and affect motor coordination, she said. “(Ecstasy) can affect thinking, planning and can make you confused and difficult to interpret your surroundings.”

Bugyra agreed during cross-examination that ecstasy can increase impulsive behaviour. As a stimulant, it can also make you faster, she agreed.

Forcillo’s lawyer Lawrence Gridin suggested that it was not possible to know whether Yatim had lost control due to the drugs in his system or whether he was in full control and the drugs were providing him with the “liquid courage” to do what he wanted.

“There’s just no way to know if the behaviour Mr. Yatim was engaged in was influenced by the drugs he was on or whether it was Mr. Yatim?” Gridin asked.

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Bugyra agreed.

The trial continues.

With files from The Canadian Press