A Nova Scotia teen has pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault in connection to a stabbing that sent two high school staff members to hospital one year ago.
The boy had originally pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including attempted murder.
“The objective isn’t to demand guilty pleas on every section of the criminal code that could apply,” said Crown attorney Jamie Van Wart outside the courtroom.
“The important thing is that the facts are fair and accurate and the sections that he did plead guilty to are a fair reflection of the wrongdoing.”
The teen appeared in Halifax Provincial Court Monday, where he gave up his right to a trial. One count of mischief was dismissed.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, there is a publication ban on his identity.
The next court date is set for June 27 for a status update, with July 24 scheduled as a tentative start to sentencing. Several assessments, including a psychological assessment, have been ordered.
The Crown asked for an adult focus for the IWK evaluations, to help determine whether there will be intention to seek an adult sentence.
“The door of that sentencing option is still open. Whether or not the Crown pursues that will be decided at a later date,” said Van Wart.
The teen, then 15-years-old, was taken into custody March 20, 2023, after two staff members at Charles P. Allen High School in Bedford, N.S. were stabbed on the first day back from March Break.
The two adults were taken to hospital for treatment and later recovered from their injuries.
Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) confirmed the suspect was in the school office with a vice-principal and the school’s secretary at the time of the stabbings.
Police confirmed that the accused was treated in hospital for stab wounds, but they said it was unclear how he received those injuries.
‘Difficult anniversary’
A spokesperson HRCE said in a statement Monday that they recognized this week was a “difficult anniversary for the Charles P. Allen High School community.”
“HRCE is working closely with CPA leadership to ensure students and staff are supported at this time,” wrote spokesperson, Lindsey Bunin, in an email.
“CPA school-based staff, along with additional resources from HRCE, are on site to support anyone who wishes to connect.”
Agreed statement of facts
A statement of facts presented to the court says the suspect was escorted to the principal’s office by a security guard after he was spotted on surveillance footage putting up questionable posters on the school walls.
The court document says the boy was with principal Wayne Rogers and security guard Ryan Cosgrove when Cosgrove pulled a butterfly knife from the student’s school bag, then left the office with the weapon and called police.
As the principal started talking to the boy about possible disciplinary action, the school administrator said he was caught off guard when the student started rummaging through his bag and said, “My life is over, so it’s just as well to do this.”
At that point, the boy pulled a folding knife from the bag.
“He walked around my desk and I had nowhere to go,” Rogers is quoted as saying in the statement of facts. “Trying to avoid the knife, I pushed him back … to get around him to get through the door. But as I passed by him, I assume it was at that time that he stabbed me twice,” in the back and side.
Moments later, the boy emerged from the locked office and stabbed administrative assistant Angela Light in the back before fleeing the building, the statement says.
Once outside, the student “cut his neck with the knife,” which he was still holding when police arrived.
“In compliance with verbal commands from police, (he) dropped the knife and fell to his knees … (and) was arrested,” the statement says.
The boy initially pleaded not guilty to 11 charges on June 15 and was released from custody on June 28 after his parents each posted a $50,000 surety, which included a list of conditions.
The statement of facts was released to the media after provincial court Judge Elizabeth Buckle approved an application for access.
— with files from The Canadian Press, as well as Global News’ Megan King and Mitchell Bailey
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