Peel police asked Jermaine Carby for ID before fatal shooting, inquest hears

The confrontation with police that costJermaine Carbyhis life back in 2014began when anofficer asked him forhis identification,acoroner's inquest heard Thursday.

The 33-year-old man was a passenger in a black Volkswagen Jettaon Sept. 24, 2014 when itwas pulled over by two Peel Regional Policeofficers during a routinetraffic stop in Brampton.

Const. Jason Senechal testified in a Brampton courthouse that he stoppedthe carbecause it had a loose licence plate, which was missing a bolt, and the vehicle's headlights were off.

• Peel police association blasts SIU head over 'inciteful' comments
• SIU clears Peel officer in 2014 shooting of Jermaine Carby
• Jermaine Carby's family wants answers in traffic stop death

The police officer said he took a breath sample from the white driver and did a street check on the black passenger Carby.

Faisal Mirza, the Carbyfamily's lawyer, suggested Senechal had no reason to ask Carby for his name and identification.

"You can understand why an African-Canadian passenger, who is just sitting there calmly, would get upset when you asked for his name and identification," Mirza said to Senechal at the inquest.

"Yes," the constablereplied.

The inquest heard that things escalated when the police officer found outstanding warrants in British Columbia under Carby's name.

Carbyhad depression: report

Senechal testified that when he told the 33-year-old to get out of the car, Carbybecame agitated and at one point shouted: "What are you going to do? ...Shoot me?"

Police sayCarby pulled out a knife, began to approach policeofficers and ignored warnings to drop the weapon when he was shot near Queen Street and Kennedy Road. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said he was shot three times.

"The officer said he was done his highway traffic stop when he finished withthe driver, so he had no reason to speak with my cousin after that," La Tanya Grant told reporters outside of the Brampton courthouse.

"Nor did he have a reason to ask for his ID," she continued.

The coroner's report noted Carby had been suffering from mental health issues, including depression, and had been seeking treatment in hospital just days before he was killed.

In July 2015, the SIUcleared the police officers involved inthe shooting of any wrongdoing.

The inquest continues Friday withthe police officer who fired the fatal bullets expected to testify.