Family members of the baby boy who died in Saskatoon over the weekend says they did not know the 16-year-old girl accused in his death, and just met her downtown. They say the girl had nowhere to go and decided to help her out.
The grandfather, mother and many other family members of six-week-old Nikosis Jace Cantre were in Saskatoon Provincial Court Tuesday for the teen’s second appearance.
"All I want to say is there be justice served for my grandson Nikosis Jace. He was sadly taken away from us for what, I don't know,” Nikosis Jace’s grandfather, Jeffery Longman, said outside of court. “People are saying on social media he was left alone with her. He wasn't. There are other sides to the story people don't know. And they're hurting my feelings, my family's feelings, my daughter's feelings."
The 16-year-old girl charged with second-degree murder in the baby’s death will stay behind bars until a scheduled bailing hearing next week.
Her name is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Justice officials in Saskatchewan say the girl escaped custody the day before the baby’s death.
Ministry spokesman Drew Wilby says the 16-year-old ran from Kilburn Hall Youth Centre at 12:45 a.m. Saturday. A call was made to Saskatoon police three minutes later.
She was serving a 10-month open custody sentence in relation to a number of offences from 2015 in North Battleford including break and enter, arson damage to property (a group home), assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, and robbery with a weapon, according to court documents.
She had previously escaped custody in February of 2016, according to the province.
Wilby says 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.
In addition to the second-degree murder charge, she is also charged with escaping lawful custody.
Officers were called to the 200 block of Waterloo Crescent in the city's College Park neighbourhood around 7:00 a.m. Sunday for a report of an injured baby boy, police said in a news release.
Nikosis Jace was taken to the Royal University Hospital where he died from his injuries.
The 16-year-old girl was taken into custody on Sunday and charged with second-degree murder later that day.
Police say the teen is not related to the baby.
The girl made her first court appearance Monday in Saskatoon Provincial Court. The court heard she is also charged with breaking two conditions in relation to the matters in North Battleford: keeping the peace and abstaining from drugs and alcohol.
The baby’s family is holding a candlelight vigil for the baby Tuesday night.
Nikosis Jace’s death is Saskatoon’s ninth homicide of the year.
--With files from The Canadian Press
