Teen accused of setting classmate on fire at Evan Hardy Collegiate re-elects trial by judge alone
The 15-year-old had previously chosen a jury trial at Court of King's Bench, but she changed that election on July 16. The accused and the teenage victim cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Prosecutor Ainsley Furlonger said there is no trial date set yet. The teen's lawyer is waiting for the results of an unspecified assessment, which is expected early next month. Furlonger said a case management meeting is set for Aug. 27.
Furlonger filed a direct indictment against the 15-year-old girl in April, meaning there won't be any preliminary hearings where evidence can be tested.
The indictment contains two charges: that the teen attempted to murder a classmate at Evan Hardy Collegiate by setting her on fire and that she caused bodily harm to the teacher who was injured when he tried to put out the fire.
The incident happened in the first week of school in September 2024. The victim sustained burns to 40 per cent of her body after the accused allegedly poured a flammable liquid on her head and torso and lit her on fire in a hallway outside a classroom, just before lunch.
The Crown previously gave notice in provincial court that it intends to seek an adult sentence for the teen, if she is convicted.
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