Tense cross-examination of former cop at inquest into 2016 death of Ottawa man

A former police officer involved in the case of an Ottawa man who died after a violent arrest had several testy exchanges with lawyers during Thursday’s cross-examination at a coroner’s inquest, and rejected suggestions that racism played a role in his actions.Former Constable David Weir is among those testifying at the inquest examining the circumstances of 38-year-old Abdirahman Abdi’s July 2016 death.Abdi died after police responded to a 911 call reporting that a man was groping women outside a coffee shop in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood. The inquest has heard that Abdi appeared to be in a mental health crisis at the time.