Adult time if teen convicted: Crown

A week after the family of six-week-old Nikosis Jace Cantre called for his accused teen killer to be sentenced as an adult, the Crown announced it would be seeking an adult sentence if the 16-year-old girl is convicted of seconddegree murder.

The girl, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared by video Monday in Saskatoon provincial court. She was ordered to undergo both a psychiatric and psychological assessment at North Battleford’s Saskatchewan Hospital, where she was remanded until her next court appearance on Aug. 24.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Crown may apply for young persons convicted of serious crimes to be sentenced as an adult. At this time, the teen girl has not admitted guilt or been convicted of any crime.

Last week, the greatgrandmother of Nikosis said she wanted the girl to go to jail “for life.”

The girl was arrested after Nikosis was found injured in a home on Waterloo Crescent on July 3. He died at Royal University Hospital as a result of the injuries, according to Saskatoon police.

Family members say relatives of the baby’s mother met the teen girl downtown the previous morning and offered her a place to sleep because it appeared she had nowhere to go.

The Justice Ministry confirmed the teen walked out of the Kilburn Hall Youth Centre at about 12:45 a.m. on July 2.

She had been serving a 10-month open custody sentence, which allows young offenders to leave if they choose because the Youth Criminal Justice Act prevents them from being locked inside. Once a youth leaves, however, he or she is charged with escape lawful custody.