Crown may seek adult sentence if youth is convicted of murder

The Crown has advised it may seek an adult sentence for a Mount Pearl teenager charged with murder, if he is convicted.

Prosecutors Deidre Badcock and Holly Holm provided notice to the court Feb. 27 it may look to have the boy, who was 14 at the time he was arrested, sentenced as an adult for second-degree murder.

The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, is charged in the Aug. 3, 2023 death of a 65-year-old woman. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has said the accused and the victim knew each other, but has not revealed the nature of their relationship, due to it potentially identifying the teenager.

He was arrested three days after the woman’s body was found in a home on Smallwood Drive. Police have not said how she was killed. In the days after her death, investigators asked residents of the neighbourhood to be on the lookout for a discarded blue plastic recycling bag and appealed for anyone with video footage from the area captured on the day in question to contact the RNC.

Police later said it had some success in locating items believed to be connected to the investigation.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a child aged 12 or 13 cannot receive an adult sentence, but a child aged 14 or older can. While the maximum sentence for a youth convicted of second-degree murder is seven years — including a maximum of four years in jail and a period of community supervision — the maximum adult sentence for the same charge is life in prison with a period of parole eligibility of 10 to 25 years, as determined by the court.

Youth who are given adult sentences can generally apply for parole earlier, however.

The Crown is obligated to consider seeking an adult sentence for a youth aged 14 or older who is found guilty of murder, attempted murder, manslaughter or aggravated sexual assault. Prosecutors are required to give formal notification that it might seek an adult sentence for an accused youth before the youth enters a plea.