Trial begins for youth accused in 2022 beating death of high-school student

A teenager accused of participating in an attack that left an Edmonton high schooler dead pleaded not guilty to manslaughter on the first day of his trial.

The trial for one of the seven youth charged in the attack, SM, began in Edmonton Court of King's Bench Tuesday. He was set to be tried alongside a co-accused, who instead pleaded guilty earlier that day.

The proceedings are taking place under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which prevents the identification of any of the youth accused.

A separate mandatory publication ban was ordered by the court on the identity of the victim, a Grade 10 student.

A ban was also ordered on the name of the high school.

Justice Gillian Marriott asked the victim's family whether they wanted to argue against the ban on their loved one's identity. A representative declined.

The Crown initially advised it would seek a ban, which would have prevented any reporting on SM's trial until the end of two separate jury trials scheduled for later this year.

A media consortium, including Postmedia, CBC and CTV successfully challenged the ban.

Witnesses in SM's trial are expected to begin giving evidence Wednesday.

One of the seven accused, an 18-year-old girl, pleaded guilty to an accessory charge last year.

All seven were initially charged with second-degree murder, which was subsequently downgraded in all but one of the cases.

One of the youth set to go to trial Tuesday, BJ, pleaded guilty to manslaughter just before SM's trial began.

BJ admitted to skipping school in early 2022 to hang out with a group of friends.

The group of nine travelled in two vehicles to multiple high schools, a recreation centre and a gas station before deciding to return to the school the victim attended.

According to an agreed statement of facts, the group saw the victim walking toward a field. Three youths exited the vehicle, approached him and adopted a “fighting stance.” Others exited the vehicles, including one wielding a field hockey stick.

The victim ran. The group caught up, tackled him and landed multiple punches. Another youth then stabbed the victim twice, bringing the attack to an end. The attackers ran off and were later picked up by vehicles and taken to Meadows Recreation Centre, where they split up.

The victim walked back to where he dropped his backpack and collapsed. He died in hospital a week later. The attack was captured on security footage.

BJ never struck the victim, but admitted that his actions “assisted” in the assault that caused his death. His case is next in court April 26 to set a date for sentencing.

The maximum sentence for manslaughter under the Youth Criminal Justice Act is three years in custody, followed by a period of conditional supervision in the community.

The act allows judges to impose adult sentences if the youth was 14 or older when the crime was committed. Prosecutors are obligated to consider seeking adult sentences for crimes including murder, attempted murder and manslaughter.