Orillia woman waits for investigation into her beating
By Tracy McLaughlin, Special to QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 09:03 PM EST | Updated: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 09:12 PM EST
ORILLIA - An innocent woman who suffered catastrophic injuries in a beating that a judge determined came at the hands of a police officer is waiting impatiently to hear the outcome of an investigation into her case.
Maria “Tonie” Farrell, a 48-year-old grandmother and former Tim Horton’s cashier, was taken to hospital on April 2, 2013 with injuries to her neck, back, a broken tibia and crushed knee that required several operations. She now lives with her elderly parents because she will never be able to work again.
For a full year, she had to hobble to court because Orillia OPP Sgt. Russ Watson charged her with assault. But on verdict day last month, Justice George Beatty found her not guilty, and instead slammed the police officer for attacking the innocent woman who was acting as a good Samaritan.
She suffered her injuries outside a convenience store after she raced to the aid of a woman who was being assaulted and tried to help by pointing out the woman’s assailants.
Sitting in her tidy Orillia home, hobbling in pain with the help of a cane, Farrell said she was visited in hospital by an officer from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) who brought a professional photographer to photograph her extensive injuries.
“I will never heal,” she said. “I guess I was just too old to get that beat up.”
The verdict inspired Farrell’s son, RJ Farrell, to buy her a bitter-sweet Christmas present — a gavel engraved with “not guilty.”
Farrell’s lawyer, Angela McLeod, is calling for Ontario’s ombudsman to step in.
“The SIU refuses to address the concerns of the court regarding officer Watson’s actions,” said McLeod. “The citizens of Orillia want an answer; the people of Ontario want an answer; and most of all, Tonie Farrell deserves an answer.”
OPP have not returned calls on whether the officer will face discipline. Office of the Ombudsman spokesman Linda Williamson said “there is nothing new to report on our end at this time.”
The SIU said it is still waiting for transcripts of case before any further steps are taken.
Tonie Farrell sits in her mother’s Orillia home where she now lives because she can’t work after suffering catastrophic injuries from a beating by a police officer. Her son, R.J. Farrell, who bought her a silver plated gavel the says "Not Guilty," looks on. (Tracy McLaughlin/Special to the Toronto Sun)
Orillia woman waits for investigation into her beating | Ontario | News | Toront
By Tracy McLaughlin, Special to QMI Agency
First posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 09:03 PM EST | Updated: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 09:12 PM EST
ORILLIA - An innocent woman who suffered catastrophic injuries in a beating that a judge determined came at the hands of a police officer is waiting impatiently to hear the outcome of an investigation into her case.
Maria “Tonie” Farrell, a 48-year-old grandmother and former Tim Horton’s cashier, was taken to hospital on April 2, 2013 with injuries to her neck, back, a broken tibia and crushed knee that required several operations. She now lives with her elderly parents because she will never be able to work again.
For a full year, she had to hobble to court because Orillia OPP Sgt. Russ Watson charged her with assault. But on verdict day last month, Justice George Beatty found her not guilty, and instead slammed the police officer for attacking the innocent woman who was acting as a good Samaritan.
She suffered her injuries outside a convenience store after she raced to the aid of a woman who was being assaulted and tried to help by pointing out the woman’s assailants.
Sitting in her tidy Orillia home, hobbling in pain with the help of a cane, Farrell said she was visited in hospital by an officer from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) who brought a professional photographer to photograph her extensive injuries.
“I will never heal,” she said. “I guess I was just too old to get that beat up.”
The verdict inspired Farrell’s son, RJ Farrell, to buy her a bitter-sweet Christmas present — a gavel engraved with “not guilty.”
Farrell’s lawyer, Angela McLeod, is calling for Ontario’s ombudsman to step in.
“The SIU refuses to address the concerns of the court regarding officer Watson’s actions,” said McLeod. “The citizens of Orillia want an answer; the people of Ontario want an answer; and most of all, Tonie Farrell deserves an answer.”
OPP have not returned calls on whether the officer will face discipline. Office of the Ombudsman spokesman Linda Williamson said “there is nothing new to report on our end at this time.”
The SIU said it is still waiting for transcripts of case before any further steps are taken.
Tonie Farrell sits in her mother’s Orillia home where she now lives because she can’t work after suffering catastrophic injuries from a beating by a police officer. Her son, R.J. Farrell, who bought her a silver plated gavel the says "Not Guilty," looks on. (Tracy McLaughlin/Special to the Toronto Sun)
Orillia woman waits for investigation into her beating | Ontario | News | Toront
