Accused plans to resume schooling
The teenager accused of killing a man in Crestview last August will be going back to school in January, after spending the last five months in jail.
The teenager accused of killing a man in Crestview last August will be going back to school in January, after spending the last five months in jail.
The 16-year-old girl cannot be identified because she is a minor.
She turned herself in to the RCMP shortly after a 56-year-old man was found suffering from multiple stab wounds in a residence on the 200 block of Rainbow Road in the Whitehorse subdivision. He was pronounced dead at Whitehorse General Hospital.
The girl is charged with second-degree murder and has been in custody at the youth detention centre since her arrest.
The girl made an application for release early last week.
Territorial court Judge Karen Ruddy indicated she would consider letting her out of jail, but only if she were going to live in a place the judge, and the public, could feel comfortable with.
"The real issue is public confidence in the administration of justice,” Ruddy said, adding the girl has no history of violence and since her arrest has been entirely co-operative.
But the judge also noted: "I have heard very little to explain how and why this happened.”
Going to live with her mother or father are not appropriate options, the court heard at the beginning of the week. Both were in the courtroom Friday, along with a dozen other friends and family members of the accused teenager.
Nor was the first person who came forward to offer the girl a place to live acceptable to the Crown prosecutor handling the case.
The court heard the woman has had her own troubles with substance abuse and mental illness, and Ruddy told defence lawyer Gord Coffin he would have to find someone more suitable.
That person came forward Friday.
The accused girl will be living with a former police officer and current drug and alcohol counsellor who told the judge he could offer a stable home and a watchful eye.
When he spoke to the judge on Friday, he noted the girl asked for a 6 p.m. curfew and said she would prefer to stay in custody until after Christmas to avoid the inevitable stress of the holidays.
"I think that shows a great amount of maturity,” he said.
"This is an extraordinarily appropriate placement,” Ruddy told the girl after hearing from her new caretaker.
"... There will be no tolerating of mistake or error. You've got your chance; don't blow it.”
Comments (15)
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Anonymous on Dec 18, 2009 at 11:42 am
Just to be clear I am not suggesting we lock this young lady up for life. I do feel that 5-10 years in prison would be fairly justified as she did not give a reason as to why she killed someone. She can receive an education in school yet serve the time for the crime she has done. It's not so much an eye for an eye but it's a time of reflection for someone who has committed a crime.
Kids get out of jail free,
I agree with you in that fact that by allowing people to get away with crimes and locking up the bouncers we are encouraging a whole lot more violence in this city.
JC,
That is the most racist and stupid comment I think I have seen on any of these postings. I may not be FN but I have respect for them and all others. Race has nothing to do with crime. Look at Brian Nowazek, he's white and he's living with family under probation and that guy is a freaking pedophile. The lowest of the low! Do us all a favour and keep your stupid comments to yourself.
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francias pillman on Dec 18, 2009 at 10:40 am
To respond to "a parent" You are seriously disillusioned. I hate my life because I have no sympathy for a killer? Where do you get this garbage from. Maybe you don't seem to understand that this decision sends a very dangerous message to our youth,,kill people and its no really a big deal. You claim she is a good person. A good person dosent take someones life, no matter what the reason is. Your empty attacks fall on deaf ears. Maybe something similar happens to one of your family members, then you might wake up and realize how ignorant and immature you are. If I was the judge I'd lock you up to for supporting and having advocation for a cold blooded KILLER.
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Kids get outta jail free! on Dec 18, 2009 at 7:50 am
So as I have read a Teen Murder gets out of jail to attend School, funny thing is schooling is available in Jail. This does not show her what she has done wrong, she Murdered somebody, if you think about it a lot of Kids 13 and over are Murdering people it's a FACT! maybe we should show compasion to all of them? NOT!
One Bouncer goes to Jail, shortly after I get Curb Stomped on a Local Bars Doorstep, No Bouncer would help because they are scared to get charged...shortly after someone is attacked with a Machette. Why because people are no longer intimidated by Authority as in Bouncers. Now we have shown our Teeny Boppers it's ok to commit a crime because it's nothing more than a slap on the wrists, you should just wait and see for yourselves. Crime in Whitehorse will Escalate, if you want to show your Compassion then how about for the Family that has Lost a Loved one, sure if you want to show Compassion for the MURDER maybe you should do weekly Visits to the Monster which has pulled the Wool over the Judicial Sytems eyes as well as yours.
By the way my Neighbors Dog has been terrorizing me for years now, wonder if I went outside and stabbed it Multiple times if I would be able to stay out of Jail? or how about that Bully from School.....for the record I was once 16 and I can tell right from wrong.
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a parent on Dec 17, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I can not believe the people on here ready to lock this young lady up and forget her...you guys are low..you have no idea "why" like others have said here.
This young lady is a good person...I do know her. She did something totally out of character...that makes me wonder right there?
Like Parental Support stated I wonder why you are so quick to judge her? FP, JC and Mosi you three are so critical i can only guess that you hate your life and have to portray that on everyone else..you are so dam negative it is pathic...get a friggin life and maybe you can have some sympathy for this young lady and the rest of her family. She obviously felt that she had to take drastic measures for what ever reason...in time that will come out in court I am sure.
But bottom line do not judge others that is not why the good lord put us on this earth!....This could be your situation sometime, anytime, no one knows
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betsy clinny on Dec 17, 2009 at 9:18 am
Parental Support
In court and in public view, she gave no explanation on why she killed that man. Even the judge asked her and she gave no answer. So i think before she is to be released, she at least give one reason as to why she did the deed.
I don't see any other murderers being allowed to leave prison early and staying with an approved person
Young or not, she took an innocent life, she should pay for her mistakes like any other murderer would in this world.
I hope judge ruddy turns her decision around and keeps this murderer in prison for many more years to come
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Excuse me? on Dec 17, 2009 at 9:14 am
She hasn't been convicted of anything yet. Keep your shorts on.
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Parental Support on Dec 16, 2009 at 3:05 pm
People! Give the kid a chance, No one has any idea the why's or what's of the situation.
Given the little information or details provided on the case no one really knows what could of made a young person do something so unthinkable.
I would have to wonder, if you are this quick to judge her what kind of person does that make you?
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yukoner on Dec 16, 2009 at 10:12 am
Well do you know why she killed him Anonymous? If this was your daughter who acted in retaliation to some form of abuse would you say lock her up for 20 yrs, even though she has a chance of rehabilitation?
So lets lock her up and when she gets out she will have no future and more likley to land right back into jail cause that will be all she ever knew.
Im sorry that someone lost a life because of this, but this isnt an eye for an eye. Thats pretty harsh, and she already has to live with this for the rest of her life. And please dont get me wrong I DO NOT condone any of her behavior.
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Anonymous on Dec 15, 2009 at 11:56 pm
This is ridiculous! I agree fully with francias pillman. So what if the girl is a young offender, she killed someone! Screw schooling, she needs to serve a nice long jail sentence. You can send in a tutor while she serves her time.
And the fact that a bouncer who punched a guy and injured him gets a longer term is just insane. With the way we treat our criminals I'd be shocked if the crime rate ever went down!
We just built a nice new women's prison, throw her in there!!!!
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yukoner on Dec 15, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Wow JC, but I shouldnt be suprised coming from you. If you dont like living with FN why not move to England? Anyways I dont think you guys can judge unless we know the situation that led up to the killing.
With all the abuse that goes on in the Yukon I wouldnt be suprised if he abused her (not saying thats what happened and dont mean to disrespect his family) but just ask yourself why a young girl would do this.
What im trying to say is that she I dont think she did it out of cold blooded murder and in her young life I think she deserves a chance as it sounds like she was never really given one.
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tommy smith on Dec 15, 2009 at 12:41 pm
your very wrong there jc about first nations. the jail is full of first nations. and i seem to remember a whiteman killed his wife a few years ago. he cried in court and said how sorry he was and i think he only did 5 years. ask the women about that one.
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mosi on Dec 14, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Like most foster home placements, how is the $$$ ? People dont do it for nothing.
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francias pillman on Dec 14, 2009 at 11:11 am
Pathetic. Ruddy should be locked up for such a stupid decision. Kill people, you are rewarded, punch someone in the head, you are behind bars for years.
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JC on Dec 14, 2009 at 9:53 am
Ah! If you want to do the crime and not do the time, come to the Yukon. And being First Nations doesn't hurt either.