The coroner's inquest into the death of Fredy Villanueva at the hands of police resumed Wednesday after more than two years of delays and court challenges.
Villanueva was shot and killed by police officers in a Montreal North park in 2008.
The inquiry into his death began in May 2009, but ground to a halt in February 2011 following multiple court challenges from the city of Montreal and the Montreal police union.
Officers said they had serious concerns about discussing specific details about how police holsters operate, saying they were concerned that revealing that information in a public inquiry could endanger the lives of officers.
Last year Quebec's Superior Court rejected those arguments as nothing more than a stalling tactic and ordered officers to co-operate with the inquiry.
While details about Wednesday's testimony are subject to a publication ban, CTV can report that a firearms safety expert from the Montreal police department testified.
The inquiry, having already heard from more than 100 witnesses, could wrap up this week because there is only one more witness scheduled.
Once testimony is completed coroner Andre Perreault will be free to write his final report about the death of Fredy Villanueva.
Quick confrontation led to shooting death
Eighteen-year-old Fredy Villanueva died in August 2008 when two officers, Jean-Loup Lapointe and Stephanie Pilotte, approached a group of young men who were gambling, in order to question Fredy's brother Dany.
Less than one minute after getting out of his car, Lapointe pulled his gun and fired, killing Fredy and injuring two friends.
Lapointe said he felt threatened by Dany's actions and was attempting to arrest him when Dany became very aggressive.
In a written statement, Lapointe stated that he fired several times after he was punched in the face and could see a hand reaching toward his firearm.
Lapointe said he fired because he feared the youths wanted to disarm him.
A firearm expert testified that the gun holsters used by police are designed in such a way that officers had to use their thumb to remove a small strap, and then move the gun in a certain way to pull it out of the holster.
Lawyers for the victims argue this is proof that officer Lapointe should not have feared being disarmed.
Villanueva's death sparked riots in Montreal North, and a police investigation which cleared the officers of any wrongdoing.
