Lawyers are recommending the maximum youth sentence for a teenager who set her classmate on fire in Saskatoon. The proposed sentence would be three years starting from the sentencing date, in addition to the time spent in custody since the arrest on Sept. 5, 2024.
The young offender appeared in Court of King’s Bench for her sentencing hearing, where emotional victim impact statements were presented by her family, classmates, and school staff at Evan Hardy Collegiate. Following the violent incident on the second day of classes in 2024, some students and staff had to change schools due to the trauma.
The incident involved the attacker bringing a water bottle filled with gasoline to school on Sept. 5, 2024. During lunchtime in a crowded hallway, the teen poured the gasoline over the victim and set her on fire, causing severe burns. The victim sustained burns on 40% of her body but managed to survive after months of hospitalization.
A teacher who intervened to extinguish the flames also suffered burns. In a previous court appearance, the teen pleaded guilty to attempted murder of the victim and causing bodily harm to the teacher.
The Crown and defense jointly recommended an intensive rehabilitation and custody supervision order, a specialized sentence under the Youth Criminal Justice Act for serious offenses. The recommended sentence for attempted murder includes two years of secure custody followed by one year of community supervision.
Initially, the Crown had sought an adult sentence for the teen but later changed its stance based on legal considerations. The defense highlighted the offender’s young age, mental health conditions, and the potential for rehabilitation as factors supporting the youth sentence recommendation.
The victim, who wasn’t present in court but watched remotely, and her family shared the ongoing struggles and impact of the attack. The victim’s mother read a statement expressing the enduring physical and emotional challenges her daughter faces post-attack.
The incident also affected other individuals, including a close friend of the victim and an educational assistant who witnessed the events unfold. The educational assistant detailed the lasting trauma she experienced and the challenges of returning to work at the school after the incident.
The court heard a summary of the agreed facts, outlining the sequence of events leading up to the attack and the lack of effective intervention despite warning signs. The victim’s harrowing journey of recovery and the systemic failures in preventing the attack were highlighted during the proceedings.
Justice Krista Zerr reserved her decision on the case until March 16, acknowledging the complexity and gravity of the situation. The court proceedings shed light on the profound impact of the crime on the victim, the community, and the need for comprehensive support and accountability in such cases.