The War Between Toronto Police and Anthony Wong

January 16, 2004

The case of Anthony Wong made history when Superior Court Justice Harry La Forme issued a directed verdict. A directed verdict is a rarely used safeguard that can be invoked when a judge concludes that there is no evidence on which a properly instructed jury can convict the accused. This was the first time that this has happened in a first degree murder case - instructing the jurors to find Anthony not guilty for the murder of Damion Barnaby.

Anthony spent three years in jail for a murder he did not commit. And he’s convinced that he was maliciously framed by the Toronto Police Services. He’s been charged with possession of cocaine, threatening a police officer, possession of firearms, and first degree murder. Fortunately, for him, he’s been found not guilty for threatening a police officer, possession of cocaine and first degree murder. The possession of firearms charges were thrown out of court. Unfortunately, however, that doesn’t make up for the three years he has lost in jail.

I first learned about Anthony when I read the horrific tale of his life in the Toronto Star on July 08, 2004. I immediately posted a link to his article on www.minnews.org .

About two months later (September 11, 2004), I was taking pictures of a religious parade -  Jesus in the city – for an article. While taking pictures, I spotted a familiar face in the crowd. I knew the face from somewhere, but I wasn’t sure where I’ve seen this face before. So I took a quick snap shot before he disappeared from the frame. 

After the parade was finished every one settled at Queens park in an atmosphere of festive songs, dance and food. It was then that this familiar face crossed my path once again. I can’t remember exactly how our conversation started but he introduced himself by saying “I’m Anthony Wong”. Anthony Wong? I thought to myself. He must have seen the puzzled look on my face as I struggled to remember where I encountered his name and face before. So he continued by telling me that he’s like the Canadian version of Hurricane Ruben Carter. “Oh yeah, now I remember. I saw an article about you in the Toronto Star” I said. So we began to talk about his experiences with the police and jail. Towards the end of our conversation we exchanged numbers and didn’t continue this conversation until a few months later.

Recently, I went to visit Anthony and we talked at length while his son (age 3) watched cartoons on TV.

Anthony told me that the Toronto Police are mad at him because he had the audacity to tell the truth in court, thus exposing their corruption. Anthony’s allegations were serious and explosive. The “truth” he speaks of stems from the incident of him being arrested and charged with possession of cocaine. About that night Anthony said

“they [the police] strip search me on the scene, [they] found no drugs in me, [they] beat me, open up my bum and found no drugs on me and [they] still took me in and …[sent] me to the hospital. The hospital reports came back and said I have no drugs in my system. I never took no drugs and they came back and said they found cocaine in the police car, [the police] charged me for it and gave me their card saying they want me to inform on people, to work for them [and tell them] about who’s selling drugs, and who’s bringing drugs … and [the police] wanted me to sell drugs for [them]”

When this incident went to court Anthony said he told the jury exactly what happened.

“I made the jury know that, made them know that, [So that’s why] they [the police] just have it out [for me]”

So during the trial for these drug charges, Detective Sean McGrath of the Drug squad accused Anthony Wong of threatening to kill him and his family. Detective McGrath alleged that Anthony threatened him in the hallway of the courtroom while the jury was deliberating on these drug charges. When Detective McGrath’s  accusations made it to court Justice J.P. Kerr was amazed that Detective McGrath claimed to remember all the details of the alleged treats with such accuracy. Of Detective McGrath’s accusation the Toronto Star reported that Justice J.P. Kerr said “It seems strange [that] this conversation took place at all ... I'm left in a state of confusion. I don't want to say he (McGrath) concocted this to frame the accused (Anthony Wong). I'd hate to think he (McGrath) was diabolical. But it can't help cross my mind.” Justice J.P. Kerr concluded the case by saying “I'm not convinced. Benefit of the doubt goes to the accused. Case dismissed.”

According to Anthony the police wanted an informant in the neighbourhood. Anthony believes that what they did to him constitutes their method of recruiting informants. Perhaps this is the best method the police can come up with to penetrate a community who’s popular culture sees an informant as an evil reprobate. Especially for those of Jamaican decent as Anthony is. In dancehall reggae music, one doesn’t have too listen for to long before hearing a song that contains the words “informa fi dead”.

Anthony is not sure whether he will be targeted by the police again but thinks that the publicity that he has received thus far makes it less likely. He is currently working on rectifying his various grievances with the police through the courts.