A judge has denied bail for two of the eight teenage girls charged with second-degree murder involving the death of a homeless man in downtown Toronto in a “swarming” attack. Four of the other girls have already been released on bail and two are awaiting bail hearings later this week.
Justice Maria Sirivar had reserved her decision following the two girls’ bail hearings last month, but announced her decision to deny bail on Tuesday.
A pre-trial publication ban is in place on any evidence described during the hearings to protect the integrity of a prospective jury pool. The names of the accused minors cannot be published under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).
Judicial Reform
Criminal defence lawyer and commentator Ari Goldkind told the Epoch Times that many are concerned about a lack of consequences for young offenders. “For 16 and 17 year olds who commit murder, that requires some thought and intention,” Goldkind said via email.“To know there are minimal real consequences for those actions, and [they will have] anonymity for the rest of their lives—so that any person sitting next to them in class or at work, any future employer or partner will never know that person has killed or stabbed somebody—that is at least a conversation we should be having. Even if the current policy is the right one,” he said.
“I hope that you will also support changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act,” Shum said.
“Why do we need to protect their privacy?” Shum asked, regarding the accused girls. “Society needs to know who these perpetrators are; especially if they are attending school. As a parent, I would want to know if a perpetrator was in my child’s school or my child’s class.”
Toronto Police Association President Jon Reid is among those calling for bail reform. He told The Epoch Times that, in general, Toronto police don’t have the manpower to enforce bail conditions.
Moved to Open Detention Facilities
The two girls who were denied bail on Tuesday have been moved from secure facilities to open facilities.Secure facilities are “generally larger sites, which have higher security measures.”
The attack occurred on Dec. 18 near York Street and University Avenue. The girls range in age from 13 to 16 and police have said they probably met each other through social media. They allegedly stabbed Lee, a 59-year-old homeless man, who later died of the injuries.
“We ensured that he knew we were always here for him and were waiting for him to return home. He wanted to resolve his issues independently, and we understood and respected his wishes,” she said.
“Although the circumstances are not fully understood, we were told he was protecting his friend that was being attacked by these girls,” Shum said. “Ken was a kind soul. He would help anyone in need, whether a close friend or just an acquaintance.”