Teen charged with murder to stay in jail until trial
The Ottawa teen charged in connection with an “extremely concerning” daytime shooting death on a Calgary street won't be released to the custody of a responsible adult, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Youth court Judge Gary Cornfield came to the same conclusion he reached in December when the youth's lawyer asked for his release on bail: the now 16-year-old should remain behind bars pending trial.
Cornfield denied an application by Ottawa lawyer Michael Smith to have the accused released into the custody of a responsible person in the community, instead of remaining detained.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, an accused who is deemed an unsuitable candidate for bail can make such an application, in which an individual agrees to take responsibility for the youth.
At Smith's request, the judge imposed a publication ban on the contents of the court proceeding.
The teen, who can't be identified under provisions of the YCJA, is charged with first-degree murder along with two adults in connection with the shooting death last July 14 of Edmonton man Christian Navos in what police said was a drug-related killing.
Police were called to an area near the intersection of Legacy Parade and Legacy Lane S.E. around 3:50 p.m. that day to find Navos dead in a vehicle.
At the time, Calgary police Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta called the shooting “extremely concerning.”
“We know that stray bullets don't discriminate. Anyone could have been hurt, seriously if not fatally, in that community,” Schiavetta said.
Troy Lemke and Joseph Chlala are also charged.
Both men are awaiting the results of their preliminary inquiry, which could be handed down Friday.
Lemke is also set to get a decision Thursday on whether he'll be granted bail. Chlala was released earlier on strict conditions.
The teen is set to face a preliminary inquiry in the fall.