Relatives of a teenager who died after being assaulted two weeks ago are pleased with the charges Edmonton police have filed against the suspects.
The Edmonton Police Service announced Friday that seven teenagers — six boys and one girl — have been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 16-year-old Karanveer Sahota.
“We were satisfied, because it could have been less,” Sahota’s cousin, Monica Binns, said Saturday morning during a news conference.
“This is the best we could ask for right now.”
Sahota, a 10th grader at McNally High School in Edmonton’s Forest Heights neighborhood, was assaulted at a bus stop near the school on the afternoon of April 8.
He suffered multiple stab wounds and was rushed to the hospital, where he died on April 15. An autopsy later confirmed that his cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.
Sahota and the seven accused teens knew each other, police said. Historically, the two groups had not gotten along and police said the assault could mean an escalation. There is no evidence to suggest that Sahota’s death was gang-related.
As a result of the EPS investigation, the six boys, two 14-year-olds, two 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds, and the 17-year-old girl were charged with second-degree murder.
The girl is also charged with attempted obstruction.
The seven defendants cannot be identified to protect their identity as minors.
Police said they don’t expect any more charges to be filed.
“The Edmonton Police Service is doing a great job,” Binns said.
Five of the defendants were granted bail at a hearing on Friday. They will then appear in provincial court on May 13.
The two remaining youths will appear before a judge for a bond hearing at some point, police said.
Family wants defendant to be tried as an adult
As juveniles, all seven defendants are subject to the Juvenile Criminal Justice Act, which offers more lenient sentences for offenders than the Canadian Penal Code.
Under the law, if a youth is convicted of second-degree murder, they can receive a sentence of up to seven years.
The sentence would consist of “custodial commitment” or “intensive rehabilitative custody commitment,” either of which would be served continuously for up to four years from the date of commitment, and a “supervised placement conditional” that would be met. in the community.
The court could also impose more penalties, the law states.
However, Sahota’s family wants the defendants to be tried as adults, Binns said.
In Canada, a juvenile can be sentenced under the Penal Code as an adult.
The minimum sentence under the Penal Code for anyone convicted of second-degree murder is life in prison.
If the person was under 18 when they committed the crime, they would have to serve at least five to seven years (depending on their age) before being eligible for parole.
GoFundMe raises over $230K for family
Binns launched a GoFundMe campaign after Sahota’s death to help raise money for the boy’s family.
As of Saturday afternoon, it has raised $233,418 from some 2,900 donors.
“They are in total shock with their body and emotional state. They are not doing well,” said Shivleen Sidhu, another of Sahota’s cousins, who spoke alongside Binns on Saturday morning.
“We’re trying to help them as a family to be strong and support them.”
The campaign was initially launched to help cover expenses for families while they are grieving, Binns said, but the outpouring of support was unexpected.
Sahota’s funeral will take place in Edmonton on Sunday afternoon.
A vigil will be held on the McNally High School campus on the evening of April 29.
Reference-www.cbc.ca