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17-year-old girl charged with murder Family and supporters of accused in Ndilo stabbing fill courtroom
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Updated: Wednesday, September 18, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A teenage girl has been charged with second degree murder in relation to the stabbing death of a 21-year-old man at a residence in Ndilo over the weekend.
RCMP investigate the scene of an alleged stabbing at a residence in Ndilo on Saturday. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo
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The 17-year-old accused made her first appearance in Yellowknife's Youth Justice Court on Monday, where lawyers scheduled her bail hearing for Tuesday morning. After an hour and a half of testimony and submissions on Tuesday, Judge Garth Malakoe decided to adjourn his decision on whether or not to release the accused until this morning.
RCMP are not releasing the name of the victim at this time.
Police were called to Ndilo shortly after 8 a.m. on Sept. 14, where they found the victim who had been stabbed. The man was brought to Stanton Territorial Hospital and declared dead.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Barry Ledoux won't say exactly when the victim was stabbed, where exactly the stabbing took place, or if the victim was alive when police arrived.
The young woman has been in custody since Sunday. She could face a maximum sentence of seven years if convicted of second degree murder under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. A maximum of four of those years can be spent in custody while the remainder would be served under conditional supervision.
Due to recent changes in the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which came into force on Oct. 23, 2012, Crown prosecutors can seek an adult sentence for a youth aged 14 and older if they are charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter or aggravated sexual assault.
The adult sentence for second degree murder is life. According to the criminal code, a 17-year-old would be eligible for parole after serving seven years in prison if convicted as an adult. The name of the young woman is protected under the Youth Justice Criminal Act and under publication ban. Arguments and evidence for or against the release of the accused are also under a standard pre-trial publication ban.
Family members and supporters of the accused crowded the territorial courtroom Monday morning. Her parents said a tearful goodbye to their daughter as she was lead away by RCMP after her appearance on Monday.
On Tuesday, every seat in the gallery was taken by either family members, supporters of the accused or the media. A brief scuffle with the court sheriff was heard as one member of the media lost his seat to a supporter of the accused. At least a dozen other supporters lined up outside the courtroom, unable to attend due to lack of seating.
RCMP major crimes unit, federal investigations unit and forensic identification services are working with the coroner in the ongoing investigation.
Ledoux wouldn't say how many people might have witnessed the stabbing. He said police have spoken to some witnesses already.
"We're still looking to talk to people who may have information," Ledoux said.
Police are asking people to call Yellowknife RCMP or Crimestoppers if they have information on the incident.
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