Crown appeals acquittal of man who punched Edmonton police officer in self defence

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Crown prosecutors are interesting the acquittal of an Edmonton man discovered not responsible of assaulting a police officer, arguing the decide was unsuitable to seek out the person acted in self defence.

Richard Walker was acquitted in June after Courtroom of King’s Bench Justice Peter Michalyshyn concluded Const. Anton Golosov was not appearing within the lawful execution of his duties when he arrested Walker at a west Edmonton McDonald’s in early 2020.

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Walker gouged Golosov’s eyes and repeatedly punched him within the head after the officer slipped on the ice throughout the tried take down. Golosov finally gained the higher hand, jamming his thumbs into Walker’s eyes and touchdown 10 punches to his face and head.

Michalyshyn discovered that whereas Walker — who was berating a drive-thru worker — could have been poorly behaved, he was doing nothing that warranted a police response.

The decide mentioned Golosov had no professional grounds to arrest Walker, who at worst “imperiously refused” his order to supply his licence and registration.

He concluded that the case got here down, partly, to a citizen’s “proper to be left alone.”

Prosecutors, nonetheless, are disputing the ruling.

In an attraction filed June 22, the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service mentioned Michalyshyn was unsuitable to seek out Walker’s arrest was illegal. It additionally disputes the conclusion that Walker acted in self defence.

In an earlier interview, defence lawyer Rory Ziv acknowledged that whereas his consumer could have been “appearing like a jerk,” Golosov needlessly escalated the state of affairs, which was largely resolved by the point he arrived.

“Mr. Walker will proceed to defend himself vigorously towards the conduct of the state,” Ziv mentioned of the attraction.

Dates for the attraction listening to haven’t been set.

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