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Quadriplegic teen charged with murdering York police officer

Halq’emeylem
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Joined: Jul 15 2011
May 10, 2013 - 2:46pm

The kid's been through enough. He'a a quadriplegic, so basically in a prison for the rest of his life. But the government wants to try him for murder anyway. What a bunch of sick fucks.

 

A teen accused of killing a York Regional Police officer has had the charge against him upgraded to first-degree murder after it was reduced less than a year ago.

The youth, who is a quadriplegic and can not be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of Const. Garrett Styles.

That charge was reduced to the lesser charge of manslaughter in a Newmarket court last October.

After the Crown sought a judicial review, Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst ordered the charge upgraded Thursday, Crown attorney Robert Scott told the Star.

Scott said Fuerst ruled Justice Peter Bourque, who presided over the preliminary hearing, “exceeded his jurisdiction” in lessening the charge.

It’s not clear if the teen’s defence lawyer, David Berg, will appeal the decision. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Styles, 32, died on June 28, 2011 after he pulled over a speeding minivan with four people inside on Hwy. 48. When he reached inside the vehicle to remove the keys, the van accelerated forward, dragging Styles for 300 metres before hitting a ditch and rolling onto him.

The youth who is charged in his death was left a quadriplegic by injuries suffered in the crash.

 

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/05/10/murder_charge_restored_agai...


Comments

Bacchus
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Joined: Dec 8 2003
May 10, 2013 - 2:52pm
#1

How is it first degree murder?  I fail to see the premeditated nature of what happened


pookie
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Joined: Dec 13 2005
May 10, 2013 - 3:57pm
#2

Bacchus wrote:

How is it first degree murder?  I fail to see the premeditated nature of what happened

Murder of someone you know to be a police office is also first-degree murder

231 (4) Irrespective of whether a murder is planned and deliberate on the part of any person, murder is first degree murder when the victim is

  • (a) a police officer, police constable, constable, sheriff, deputy sheriff, sheriff’s officer or other person employed for the preservation and maintenance of the public peace, acting in the course of his duties;

  • (b) a warden, deputy warden, instructor, keeper, jailer, guard or other officer or a permanent employee of a prison, acting in the course of his duties; or

  • (c) a person working in a prison with the permission of the prison authorities and acting in the course of his work therein.


Francesca Allan
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Joined: Feb 25 2013
July 7, 2013 - 10:33pm
#3

Is there more to this story? Based on what I've read here, I can't imagine why this wouldn't be considered murder. How does the fact of the alleged's resulting quadriplegia have any bearing on his responsbility for his criminal actions? If I was robbing a bank and accidentally shot myself, does that mean I shouldn't be charged with bank robbery?


shartal@rogers.com
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Joined: Mar 14 2011
July 8, 2013 - 9:00am
#4
The charge probably arises because of the allegedly deliberate action of trying to pull the car away from the officer who was reaching into the car for the Kay's. thus dragging the officer to his death..

Francesca Allan
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Joined: Feb 25 2013
July 8, 2013 - 9:18am
#5

Yes, I think so too. That's why I was curious about the opening post of this thread.


Timebandit
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Joined: Sep 25 2001
July 11, 2013 - 9:57am
#6
The "suffered enough" caveat is appropriate at the point of sentencing, not when charges are being laid. There's a possibility, even a likelihood that the judge will take into account the accused's consequent disability. There's also the possibility that the jury will not feel the charge of first degree murder fits and find him not guilty. As far as I can see, a charge relating to the death of the officer is an appropriate response.

Aristotleded24
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Joined: May 24 2005
July 30, 2013 - 2:01pm
#7

Are cops trained to reach into a car and remove the keys to stop a vehicle from moving? Wouldn't that be a bit dangerous? Could he have run back to his cruiser and called for back-up? Or maybe once the van started moving the officer had no means of escaping?

Obviously a tragic situation all around.


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