Relatives of the teenager, who died after an attack two weeks ago, are pleased with the allegations made by Edmonton police against the suspects.
The Edmonton Police Department said Friday that seven teenagers – six boys and one girl – have been charged with second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Karanvir Sahota, 16.
“We were happy because it could have been less,” Sahota’s cousin Monica Bins said at a news conference on Saturday morning.
“That’s the best we can ask for right now.”
Sahota, a 10th grader at McNally High School in the Forest Heights neighborhood of Edmonton, was attacked at a bus stop near the school on the afternoon of April 8.
He received multiple stab wounds and was rushed to hospital, where he died on April 15. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.
Sahota and the seven accused teenagers knew each other, police said. The two groups have historically not understood each other, and police said the attack could mean escalation. There is no evidence to suggest that Sahota’s death was linked to a gang.
As a result of the EPS investigation, the six boys – two 14-year-olds, two 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds – and a 17-year-old girl were charged with second-degree murder.
The girl is also accused of trying to obstruct.
The seven defendants cannot be named to protect their identities as minors.
Police said they did not expect any further charges.
“The Edmonton Police Department is doing a great job,” Beans said.
Five of the accused were released on bail on Friday. They will then appear in the provincial court on May 13.
The other two young men will appear before a bail judge at some point, police said.
Sahota, shown here, is remembered by his cousins as gentle and kind. (Courtesy of the Sahota family)
The family wants the accused to be tried as adults
As juveniles, the seven defendants fall under the Juvenile Criminal Justice Act, which offers lighter sentences for offenders than the Canadian Penal Code.
According to the law, if a young man is found guilty of second-degree murder, he could receive a sentence of up to seven years.
The sentence will consist of “detention in custody” or “custody for intensive rehabilitation” – each of which will be served continuously for up to four years from the date of detention – and “placement on probation” for community service.
The court may impose additional sanctions, the act said.
However, the Sahota family wants the accused to be tried as an adult, Beans said.
In Canada, a young person can be convicted under the Penal Code as an adult.
The minimum sentence under the Penal Code for anyone convicted of second-degree murder is life imprisonment.
If the person was under the age of 18 when he or she committed the crime, he or she will have to serve at least five to seven years (depending on his or her age) before being eligible for parole.
GoFundMe raises over $ 230,000 for the family
Bins launched the GoFundMe campaign after Sahota died to help raise money for the boy’s family.
As of Saturday afternoon, he had raised $ 233,418 from about 2,900 donors.
“They are in complete shock for their body and emotional state. They are not doing well,” said Shivlin Sidhu, another cousin of Sahota, who spoke with Bins on Saturday morning.
A memorial in honor of Sahota has been erected in front of McNally High School. (Julia Wong / CBC)
“We try to help them as a family to be strong and to support them.”
The campaign was initially launched to help cover the costs of families as they grieve, Beans said, but the outpouring of support was unexpected.
Sahota’s funeral will be in Edmonton early Sunday afternoon.
A vigil will be held on the evening of April 29 at McNally High School.
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