Trial begins for OPP officer accused of manslaughter in death of 24-year-old Six Nations man

CBC News

· Posted: May 12, 2025 4:33 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) serviceman is facing a judge-alone proceedings into a fatal shooting of an Indigenous antheral successful Chatham-Kent successful July 2021.

The proceedings began Monday astatine the Ontario Court of Justice successful Chatham. Const. Sean O'Rourke is charged with manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty.

On July 7, 2021, OPP responded to a telephone astir a gasoline theft of $40. Officers located the conveyance believed to beryllium progressive travelling westbound connected Highway 401 and followed it.

The conveyance ended up successful the ditch dividing the highway. A firearm was discharged and Nicholas Edward Grieves, a 24-year-old-man, aboriginal died successful hospital. Grieves was a subordinate of Six Nations of the Grand River but had been staying successful Windsor.

On Monday, Justice Bruce Thomas heard the Crown's introspection of a forensic researcher with the Special Investigations Unit, the provincial constabulary watchdog that investigated the case.

Additionally, Crown lawyer Jason Nicol presented 2 videos changeable by OPP and SIU from July 7, 2021, and showed the packed courtroom 36 photos from the country including a fewer photos showing the reddish T-shirt worn by Grieves and a post-mortem representation showing the slug onslaught successful his close shoulder. 

The tribunal besides heard an audio signaling of the dispatch communications. 

"We are gonna effort to halt him," says O'Rourke successful that recording.

The proceedings is expected to past 2 weeks. 

O'Rourke, who joined the Chatham-Kent OPP detachment successful 2004, has been suspended with wage since being charged by the portion successful 2022.