The trial for one of two teens charged in the death of a 16-year-old Regina girl began Monday morning with the accused pleading not guilty.
Hannah Leflar, a Grade 11 student at Thom Collegiate, was found dead in her Regina home just a few blocks away from the school on January 12, 2015.
In an opening statement, Crown prosecutor Chris White said Leflar was stabbed nine times in the torso and once in the back of the neck with a knife.
The youth who attacked Leflar with the knife already pleaded guilty to the first degree murder charge in April.
READ MORE: Youth pleads guilty to killing Hannah Leflar
But the youth now on trial — who can’t be named because of provisions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — is accused of being part of the plan “every step of the way”.
White said the accused kept tabs on Leflar, was part of the plan to lure her to her home alone, provided the murder weapon, and was in the room when she was killed.
Defence lawyer Greg Wilson said in his opening statement that while his client was present at Leflar’s home when she was murdered, that alone does not make him guilty of first degree murder.
After opening statements, court heard from a number of witnesses including Leflar’s step-father, Wade Anderson.
Anderson described how he found Leflar in the master bedroom after returning home from work, face down and not breathing.
He called 911 and began chest compressions until a police officer arrived.
“I could tell by the look on his face. He knew,” Anderson said.
A jury of 12 plus two alternatives were selected on Monday as well. The jury will hear from around 20 witnesses during the trial. The trial is expected to last two weeks.