`I'M DEAD,' DAWSON TOLD COP

Suspect fought violently before death, officer says

Moments after Hugh Dawson was shot repeatedly by police, the suspected drug
dealer told an officer he knew he wasn't going to live, a trial has been
told.

``Okay. I give up now. I'm dead,'' Detective Constable Rajeev Sukumaran
quoted Dawson as saying after the Scarborough man was hit by nine bullets,
all fired within the cramped confines of his Honda Accord.

Sukumaran, testifying yesterday at the manslaughter trial of fellow
officer, Constable Richard Shank, told court he was the first to shoot
Dawson after a violent struggle inside the car.

``It was loud. It was scary. It was a tense, stressful time,'' Sukumaran
said of the March 30, 1997, confrontation with Dawson, a suspected crack
cocaine dealer.

Although two other drug squad officers have testified about what they saw
during the chaotic police takedown that Easter Sunday night, only Sukumaran
was inside the car with Shank when Dawson was killed.

Sukumaran told Crown Attorney Sandy Tse that Dawson was heading northbound
on Kennedy Rd. approaching a red light at Danforth Ave. when Shank - in
command as the designated road boss - gave the order to take the car down.

The crown has alleged that Shank was criminally negligent in the handling
of the arrest.

When the undercover cars boxed the suspect's vehicle in, Sukumaran
testified he ran from his car, yelling: ``Put your hands up. Put your hands
up!''

As Sukumaran made his way to the driver's side of the car, Dawson's vehicle
started reversing, smashing into a civilian car behind him, Sukumaran
testified.

He said he then smashed the driver's side window and dove into the car.
Sukumaran struggled with Dawson, hitting him in the head with the butt of
his gun as he tried to get to the gear shift to stop the car, the jury was
told.

At one point, Dawson turned his attention to Shank and started struggling
with the officer's gun. Sukumaran said he found himself in the direct line
of fire as his colleague fought with Dawson.

Fearing for his life, Sukumaran tried to get out of the car. That's when he
heard Shank yell: ``He's got my gun. He's got my gun,'' court was told.

It was at that moment Sukumaran testified he pointed his gun ``at the
centre mass'' of Dawson's body and fired once. It didn't stop the suspect,
the seven-year veteran of the Toronto force testified.

``He's even more enraged,'' Sukumaran said of his attempts to stop Dawson
by shooting him. Dawson began struggling with Sukumaran to get his gun, the
court heard.

He said he heard more shots and after the gunfire ended, Dawson released
his grip on Sukumaran. It was then that Dawson spoke for the last time.

Sukumaran didn't write out his notes until two days after the shooting,
saying he was ``under a great deal of stress.''

The trial continues before Mr. Justice Eugene Ewaschuk of Ontario Court,
general division.

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson