Montreal police officer will stand trial in connection with 2016 drug bust death

• Charges against police in Montreal North death a step in right direction, activists say

Jean-Pierre's death exacerbatedalready strained relations in Montreal North.

A vigil a month after his deathturned violentwhensome protesters began targeting shops and vehicles, police say.

Details of the 2016 police operation connected withJean-Pierre's deathareunder a publication ban.

The date of the trial, which will take place before judge and jury, will be set on Aug. 22.

Charges against policeare rare

The last time a Montreal police officer was charged in connection with a death was in 2000, when Giovanni Stante was charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Jean-Pierre Lizotte.

Lizottedied in 1999from injuries sustained during an arrest on St-Laurent Boulevard. Stante wasacquitted.

Eric Sutton, a Montrealcriminal defence lawyer,said police officers have more leeway than the average citizen as long as they are following police procedure.

But, he said, a conviction is possible.

"If they've acted in a gross and negligent or did not respect the procedure and were undue in their inattention to respecting their procedure, they can be convicted. It's not unheard of," he said.