Latest news with #swarmingattack
National Post
01-08-2025
- National Post
Sentencing expected today for girl found guilty of manslaughter in deadly swarming
TORONTO — An Ontario judge is set to deliver his sentence this afternoon in the case of a teen girl found guilty of manslaughter in a deadly swarming attack on a homeless Toronto man. Article content The girl was 14 when she and seven other teens attacked Kenneth Lee in a downtown Toronto parkette in December 2022. The 59-year-old died in hospital after undergoing emergency surgery. Article content Article content Article content Months later, Ontario Justice Philip Campbell found her not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Article content Article content Prosecutors initially said they would ask for the girl to spend some time in custody as part of her sentence but changed course earlier this week, instead arguing for a 16-month probation sentence, with the first year under an intensive support and supervision program. Article content The defence argues the girl should receive a sentence of 12 months of probation, with a minimum of six months in an intensive support and supervision program. Article content On Wednesday, the girl offered a tearful apology as she addressed the court, saying she accepts full responsibility for her actions and is making an effort to change herself for the better. Article content Article content 'I know nothing I say will ever change what happened, but I still want to say that I'm truly sorry and I accept full responsibility and I am making an effort to grow as a person and learn from it and I'm disappointed in the actions and decisions I made,' she said. Article content Article content The late-night attack that shocked the city was captured on security video, and the footage served as the central piece of evidence at trial. Article content Prosecutors argued the girl was the one who fatally wounded Lee, stabbing him with a knife or small pair of scissors in the melee. The defence, however, argued it was impossible to tell from the video who stabbed Lee or when, noting Lee himself didn't realize he'd been stabbed at the time. Article content No knife was recovered in the investigation, and the girl's lawyers said she didn't have one at any point that night. Article content At the time of her arrest, she had two small pairs of scissors and some tweezers, court heard. Article content Lee died from hemorrhagic shock after he was stabbed in the heart, the forensic pathologist who examined his body told the court. The pathologist testified it was unlikely the scissors found with the girl would have caused the wound to Lee's heart, though they could have caused a smaller, non-fatal stab wound near his armpit. Article content Campbell said prosecutors had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the girl was responsible for the fatal injury, or that she had the state of mind required for murder. Article content
CBC
01-08-2025
- CBC
Sentencing expected Friday for girl found guilty of manslaughter in deadly Toronto swarming attack
Social Sharing An Ontario judge is set to deliver his sentence this afternoon in the case of a teen girl found guilty of manslaughter in a deadly swarming attack on a homeless Toronto man. The girl was 14 when she and seven other teens attacked Kenneth Lee in a downtown Toronto parkette in December 2022. The 59-year-old died in hospital after undergoing emergency surgery. All eight girls were charged with second-degree murder, and seven ended up pleading guilty to lesser charges — five to manslaughter, one to assault and one to assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. This girl also tried to plead guilty to manslaughter as her trial began earlier this year, but the Crown rejected her plea. Months later, Ontario Justice Philip Campbell found her not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Prosecutors initially said they would ask for the girl to spend some time in custody as part of her sentence but changed course earlier this week, instead arguing for a 16-month probation sentence, with the first year under an intensive support and supervision program. The defence argues the girl should receive a sentence of 12 months of probation, with a minimum of six months in an intensive support and supervision program. Girl apologized in court on Wednesday On Wednesday, the girl offered a tearful apology as she addressed the court, saying she accepts full responsibility for her actions and is making an effort to change herself for the better. "I know nothing I say will ever change what happened, but I still want to say that I'm truly sorry and I accept full responsibility and I am making an effort to grow as a person and learn from it and I'm disappointed in the actions and decisions I made," she said. WATCH | Teen girl found guilty of manslaughter in fatal Toronto swarming attack: 2nd teen sentenced in death of Kenneth Lee gets 21 months probation 10 months ago The second teen to be sentenced in the 2022 death of Toronto homeless man Kenneth Lee will not serve any more time in custody, but will spend close to two years under probation. The 15-year-old girl pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this year. CBC's Greg Ross has more on where the cases of the girls' co-accused stand. The late-night attack that shocked the city was captured on security video, and the footage served as the central piece of evidence at trial. Prosecutors argued the girl was the one who fatally wounded Lee, stabbing him with a knife or small pair of scissors in the melee. The defence, however, argued it was impossible to tell from the video who stabbed Lee or when, noting Lee himself didn't realize he'd been stabbed at the time. No knife was recovered in the investigation, and the girl's lawyers said she didn't have one at any point that night. At the time of her arrest, she had two small pairs of scissors and some tweezers, court heard. Lee died from hemorrhagic shock after he was stabbed in the heart, the forensic pathologist who examined his body told the court. The pathologist testified it was unlikely the scissors found with the girl would have caused the wound to Lee's heart, though they could have caused a smaller, non-fatal stab wound near his armpit. Campbell said prosecutors had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the girl was responsible for the fatal injury, or that she had the state of mind required for murder.
CTV News
30-07-2025
- CTV News
Sentencing submissions expected for teen girl involved in fatal swarming of homeless man in Toronto
Toronto Watch Sentencing submissions are expected today for the teen girl found guilty of manslaughter in the fatal swarming attack on Kenneth Lee.
CTV News
30-07-2025
- CTV News
Teen girl found guilty of manslaughter in fatal Toronto swarming apologizes in court
Sentencing submissions are expected today for the teen girl found guilty of manslaughter in the fatal swarming attack on Kenneth Lee.
National Post
30-07-2025
- National Post
Sentencing submissions expected today for girl in deadly swarming attack
TORONTO — Sentencing submissions are expected today for a teen girl found guilty of manslaughter in a fatal swarming attack on a homeless Toronto man. Article content The teen was one of eight girls between the ages of 13 and 16 who were arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Kenneth Lee. Article content Article content The other seven girls pleaded guilty to lesser charges — five to manslaughter, one to assault and one to assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. Article content Article content This girl, who was 14 at the time of the attack, also tried to plead guilty to manslaughter at the start of her trial, but her plea was rejected by the Crown. Article content Article content
