Lawyers began what is expected to be several days of legal arguments Monday in the case of four girls who face trial this year for their alleged role in a deadly gang attack on a homeless man in Toronto.
The teens are part of a group that police say invaded and stabbed Kenneth Lee, a 59-year-old man who lived in the city’s shelter system, in December 2022.
Eight girls aged 13 to 16 were arrested in the hours following Lee’s death.
Receive national news daily
Get the day’s top news, politics, business and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day.
All were charged with second-degree murder, and four have since pleaded guilty to lesser charges of manslaughter or assault.
A judge-only trial is scheduled this month for two of the remaining girls charged with second-degree murder.
The other two are expected to be tried by judge and jury in May, one for second-degree murder and the other for involuntary manslaughter.
The four girls scheduled to stand trial were originally supposed to have their cases decided by a jury, but two of them recently opted for a judge-alone trial after the Crown and judge agreed to a request from their lawyers.
The cases were split into two trials due to scheduling issues.
None of the accused can be identified because they are minors.
None of the evidence or arguments presented at this week’s hearings can be released due to a publication ban. Submissions are expected to continue throughout the week.
© 2025 The Canadian Press