MONTREAL - Coroner Catherine Rudel-Tessier cleared police of wrongdoing in the death of Mohamed Anas Bennis, in a report released Thursday.
Bennis, 25, was shot dead by police on the morning of December 1, 2005.
According to witnesses Bennis, leaving a mosque cried out, "God is great," and attacked passing police officer Yannick Bernier with a knife.
Bernier was injured by the knife in the neck and leg. Witnesses said that the officer wrestled him to the ground and warned him to stay down but Bennis continued to attack the officer. Bernier then shot Bennis twice, killing him.
When the hearings began in April, the Bennis family boycotted the proceedings, citing the fact that their legal fees were not covered by the authorities. Bennis' father remained in the hallway while the case went on, denying the coroner's entreaties to have him enter.
In her final report, the coroner concluded that the officer had no other choice but to act as he did.
The decision was in line with the results of a previous investigation conducted by the Quebec City police.
The Montreal Police Brotherhood blocked a coroner's inquest until the Superior Court ordered it to continue last September.
Last November 100 people marched downtown in memory of Bennis, under the slogan, "Diginity, Justice and Truth."
