A Saskatoon teenager accused of setting a fellow classmate on fire has entered a plea of not guilty and opted for a judge-alone trial in the Court of King’s Bench. The 15-year-old, who was 14 at the time of the alleged incident, made a virtual appearance in provincial court on Friday. A preliminary hearing spanning four days has been scheduled for July. The charges against the teenager include attempted murder, aggravated assault, and arson.
The Crown prosecutor, Ainsley Furlonger, mentioned that if the teenager is found guilty, the Crown will pursue an adult sentence. The distressing event took place during the lunch break on the first day of school in September at Evan Hardy Collegiate.
During the incident, eyewitnesses, including Grade 9 student Sophie Hubbard and her friend Lexxi Sparvier, recounted the harrowing scene. Hubbard described seeing a girl pouring liquid from a black container onto another girl before witnessing the victim catching fire in the hallway. Both students were unsure about the ignition source.
Following the chaos, teachers swiftly intervened to extinguish the flames. The 15-year-old victim sustained serious injuries and was promptly transported to the hospital, where she received medical attention. One teacher was also hospitalized due to the incident. The accused was apprehended shortly after and is currently in custody.
