Lawyers in the case of a teen girl charged with killing a six-week-old baby boy say they need more time before the results of the teen’s psychiatric assessment are released.
The 16-year-old, charged with second-degree murder in the death of Nikosis Jace Cantre, appeared via video link in Saskatoon’s provincial court Wednesday. The results of a psychiatric assessment were expected to be released, but lawyers told the court they need more time to review the information.
The teen, whose name is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested and charged July 3 following a call to the 200 block of Saskatoon’s Waterloo Crescent earlier that morning. Six-week-old Cantre was found at the home with serious injuries, according to police. He later died in Royal University Hospital.
Justice officials said shortly after the arrest the teen had escaped custody from the Kilburn Hall Youth Centre the day before the death. She was serving a 10-month open custody sentence for a number of offences, including break and enter, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, arson damage to property and robbery with a weapon, when she ran from the facility.
She was not related to Cantre. The boy’s family has said they did not know her and had just met her downtown. The teen had nowhere to go and the family decided to help her.
The Crown has stated they will be seeking an adult sentence if the girl is convicted.
Relatives of the boy have spoken a few times publicly since the death, and on Wednesday emotions were again high following the youth’s court appearance.
The infant’s great grandmother, Eva Meechance, cried as she spoke about the death to supporters outside court.
“I love all my grandkids, my great grandkids, my kids. All my kids are in my heart,” she said. “I never thought I was going to lose my grandson.”
The teen’s next court appearance is set for Sept. 21.
Open custody means doors cannot be locked and staff can’t physically stop young offenders from leaving, but if they do, they are breaking the law, according to justice officials.
--- with files from CTVNews.ca
