‘I didn’t see him’: Former Ontario college basketball star testifies at his hit-and-run trial

Wearing a navy suit, achromatic formal shirt, bluish necktie and decorator sneakers, Adam Hosseini testified that helium had nary thought helium had struck a idiosyncratic connected May 7, 2023, astatine his nonaccomplishment to stay astatine the country of an mishap causing decease trial Monday.

The erstwhile Durham College hoops player, who had been named the astir invaluable subordinate for the 2022-2023 season, told tribunal helium had spent the time earlier astatine a hoops tourney and was hanging retired astatine a friend’s location adjacent Sheppard Avenue and Markham Road the evening before.

Still parched from playing 2 games that day, Hosseini, who was 24 astatine the time, told Ontario Court Justice Michael Block that helium decided to thrust his mother’s car to a adjacent Circle K to get a Powerade drink. He testified helium was unlicensed astatine the time.

As helium was driving westbound connected Sheppard Avenue East, adjacent Markham Road, astir 12:30 a.m., Hosseini testified helium thought helium mightiness person clipped a pothole oregon a pylon but aft looking successful his rear-view reflector and unsighted spot and seeing a operation site, helium thought helium indispensable person deed a pylon.

During cross-examination, adjunct Crown lawyer Robert Fried asked however helium could explicate hitting a pylon if helium didn’t spot 1 down him. “Just due to the fact that I deed it doesn’t mean I knocked it over,” helium said.

Fried asked wherefore Hosseini didn’t get retired of the car to cheque what helium had hit. “I’ve been successful aggregate cars with a friend,” helium said. “You’re not going to cheque it each clip you thrust implicit a pothole.”

Fried besides showed dash camera video from a TTC autobus that was down Hosseini’s reddish Mazda sedan to the tribunal which appeared to amusement the Mazda swerving somewhat earlier brake lights went on.

“I’m suggesting you did spot him concisely earlier but didn’t person clip to brake,” said Friend.

“Not a accidental sir. Why would I not stop? I didn’t spot him. At the extremity of the day, I person to unrecorded with this, each day, I unrecorded with regret of driving that vehicle,” Hosseini replied.

Hosseini said the flimsy swerve mightiness person been owed to an alignment contented with the car. “If I (sic) seen him, it would person been a large swerve. I astir apt would person gone into oncoming traffic,” helium said.

Hosseini said helium didn’t propulsion implicit due to the fact that helium didn’t deliberation determination was immoderate crushed to. “Why would I halt my car to cheque those things that are commonly seen connected the road?” helium responded.

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“I’m suggesting to you, if you had immoderate thought you mightiness person deed a idiosyncratic not a pylon, that’s going to make a concern wherever constabulary get progressive and past you would person to reply wherefore you were driving without a license,” said Fried.

Hosseini answered, “I’m not reasoning for maine to get successful occupation if I deed someone, from the bottommost of my heart.”

Fried reminded Hosseini that conscionable a period prior, helium got a summons for driving without a license.

“This juncture that Mr Acorn died tragically, you were besides driving without a licence and you had suspicions you mightiness person deed a idiosyncratic but you didn’t privation to find out,” helium suggested. “If you did get out, constabulary would person travel and you would person gotten successful trouble.”

Hosseini was adamant that helium had seen nary one. “That’s not true. If I had seen Mr. Acorn earlier oregon after, I would person helped him. I (sic) ne'er seen him before,” helium said.

During re-examination, Hosseini explained that the archetypal clip helium was pulled implicit for driving without a license, helium was ticketed for failing to travel to a implicit halt astatine a halt sign. “Even that time I shouldn’t person been driving,” helium said. “I was driving to babysit my granddad.”

Hossein’s lawyer, Mena Bastawrous, asked if the information helium was unlicensed had thing to bash with him not stopping that night. “I didn’t deliberation determination was a crushed to,” said Hosseini.

Closing submissions volition beryllium heard connected Tuesday.