Judge probes jury candidates on race, religion to hear Black Muslim’s case

Judge François Dadour asked potential jurors if they had any preconceived notions about accused’s race or religion

MONTREAL, Canada – A Montreal Superior Court judge asked jurors questions about race and religion before selecting them to hear the case of Ali Ngarukiye, a Black Muslim accused of the attempted murder of a Montreal police officer.

Judge François Dadour informed the potential jurors that the defendant is a Black man of Muslim faith and asked them if they had any preconceived notions about his race or religion.

He also inquired about their opinions of people in positions of power, such as police officers.

The first three people called as potential jurors were selected for the jury.

The fourth candidate, a social worker who expressed sympathy for the defendant, was excluded.

While asking his questions, Dadour also informed the candidates that Mamadi Fara Camara was wrongfully arrested and detained as a suspect of attempted murder and will testify during the trial.

The 23-year-old Ngarukiye is charged with the attempted murder of Sanjay Vig, a police officer who was on duty during a traffic stop in Parc-Extension on January 28, 2021.

Dadour also informed the candidates that Mamadi Fara Camara was wrongfully arrested and detained as a suspect of attempted murder and will testify during the trial.

The wrongful arrest was widely reported in the Montreal media, but the first two candidates said they did not know Camara’s name or that of Ngarukiye.