On Wednesday, Sgt. Sarah Andrews spoke of the last moments in Sgt. Ryan Russell's life. Andrews told the court that blood could be found everywhere as she held on to Russell as he died after being hit by a snowplow, the Associated Press reported.
Richard Kachkar, 46, allegedly struck 35-year-old Russell, a Toronto police officer, while driving a snowplow. According to the AP, Kachkar is charged with first-degree murder and dangerous driving in the death of the police officer. He has pleaded not guilty.
Andrews is one of several witnesses who are testifying in the trial, with many saying that Russell attempted to no avail to stop the incoming plow, even backing away and firing shots before being hit. The AP reported that the plow knocked the police officer over, spinning his body towards the center of the plow and fracturing his skull with its blade.
Witnesses said they immediately called for emergency help and that's when Andrews and her partner arrived. According to the AP, Andrews spoke through tears as she told the court, "I dropped to the ground and I tried to roll the body over." She added, "I ended up rolling him on top of me and it was at that time I realized it was a police officer."
Andrews continued her heart wrenching testimony in graphic detail. "I put my right hand underneath his head and I could feel a hole in the back of his head. There was a lot of blood pouring out into my hand," she said. Although Russell wasn't conscious, Andrews told the court she could feel "slight warm air," the AP reported.
"I took his left hand and I held it and I could feel his wedding ring and I just kept talking to him telling him that he had to fight and to hold on, help was coming," Andrews told the court. "I kept asking for help on the radio and another officer finally came...He helped me loosen up his vest and I put my hand under his vest to see if I could feel his heart beating. He was warm, but I couldn't feel his heart beating."
According to the AP, Russell was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Witnesses told the trial that that Kachkar had stolen the plow at a Tim Hortons around 5 a.m. on January 12, 2011. He then drove around Toronto, hitting cars and screaming about the Taliban, Chinese technology and a microchip in his body for two hours, the AP reported.
While the judge has told the jury that there is no doubt Kachkar drove the plow and hit Russell, the case will revolve around his mental state. According to reports, the Crown says that Kachklar meant to hit and kill Russell.
Russell responded to a call about Kachklar's erratic driving when he caught up with him and tried to stop him. Witnesses told the court that he even fired shots at the plow's windshield before Kachklar pummeled him with the plow.
Witness Vance Cooper told the jury, "At that moment the plow is bearing down on the officer and I'm just holding my breath and hoping that this officer can get out of the way." The AP reported that Cooper continued, "(He's) driving straight, no steering, no braking, no apparent effort to change course."
The trial, which began on Monday, is scheduled to last two months, the AP reported.