Stfanie Trudeau 'Officer 728' trial: witness says he feared dying during arrest

Serge Lavoie told a Montreal court Friday that he thought he was going to die while he was being arrestedby policeofficerStfanie Trudeauin October2012.

• Stfanie Trudeau, 'Officer 728,' talks betrayal, suicide, and recovery

Trudeau, known to many as 'Officer728' because of her badge number, is accused of using excessive forcewhile arresting Lavoiefor drinking a beer outside his residence on Oct. 2, 2012. She was suspended from the force shortly after.

In his testimony Friday, Lavoie denied that he had been drinking and said he did not resist arrest. He said he did not understand why Trudeau was after him.

I was sure I would die. I told her she's going to kill me,- witness Serge Lavoie

Videos of the incident that the Crown presented as evidence earlier this week show Trudeau forcing Lavoie down a set of stairs in a chokehold.

"I was sure I would die. I told her she's going to kill me," he testified on Friday.

Later, under cross-examination by the defence, Lavoie admitted to having had a couple of beers earlier in the day.

It was also pointed out that Lavoiecan be heard on the videocallingTrudeau"grosse niaseuse", or"fat dummy,"during an earlier altercation between the officer and another manoutside the apartment.

Lavoie's testimony came on day two of Trudeau's summary trial for which the officeris seeking a stay ofproceedings.

In late 2014, the Crown agreedto try Trudeau by summary trial rather than as an indictable offence, which in turn reduces the severity of the charge.

As a result, if found guilty, Trudeaufaces a maximum of six months in jailrather than the maximum sentence of five years for an indictable offence.

The judge in the case said he would listen toall the Crown's evidencebefore hearing Trudeau's requestfor astay of proceedings.