Teen charged with first-degree murder in youth’s death

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He’s barely a teenager, but he’s facing the most serious charge in Canadian law.

A 13-year-old male youth made his first court appearance Wednesday in Goderich, charged with first-degree murder. Sources say the victim in the case is a 12-year-old.

Under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, neither he nor the victim can be named publicly. There was a ban on publication of any evidence taken at the hearing or at any subsequent bail hearing.

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The youth from Central Huron was charged after the OPP and emergency services were called to a property on Cut Line Road , between Parr Line and Tipperary Line, just west of the tiny community of Holmesville in Central Huron on Tuesday at about 4:15 p.m.

Huron County OPP said in a news release Wednesday morning a person was found and transported to hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Police advised the public there would be “a large police presence” in the area, but added “(t)here is no threat to public safety.”

Police later said the victim was a youth whose age was not released.

The charged youth appeared in a Goderich courtroom Wednesday afternoon through a Zoom link from the Huron County OPP detachment in Clinton.

When asked by justice of the peace Karl McNamara, the youth gave his name and birthdate. Several times, he took sips from a bottle of water. When he emptied a bottle, he turned and asked an officer guarding him to help him take the cap off a fresh bottle.

The youth confirmed he met with duty counsel lawyer Melissa Egan. Assistant Crown attorney Deanna Bronowicki represented the prosecution at the hearing.

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Most of the youth’s court appearance was used to ensure the proper legal procedures under the Youth Criminal Justice Act were followed to keep the youth in custody. McNamara made the mandatory detention order, and if the youth decides to apply for bail, his hearing would need to be scheduled before a youth court judge.

Egan told McNamara the youth has retained Goderich defence lawyer Robert Morris and requested that the case be adjourned until Friday when Morris is expected to update any bail plan and discussions with the Crown.

McNamara noted one of the youth’s parents was in the courtroom for the hearing.

Holmesville has a population of roughly 900 and is between Clinton and Goderich. Investigators appeared to be set up near the former Holmesville public school that has been closed for several years.

The school was surrounded by police tape. There are homes around the school building and it wasn’t immediately clear where the investigation was focused.

The police investigation made for an unusually hectic scene, nearby resident Janet Lyons said.

“It’s generally pretty quiet around here,” she said.

Police noted there was no ongoing threat to public safety. The Huron County OPP crime unit is investigating along with the OPP criminal investigation branch, OPP forensic identification services and the office of the chief coroner.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ontario Provincial Police Huron County detachment at 1-888-310-1122.

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