The sentencing for the second youth who killed Hannah Leflar took a dramatic twist on Wednesday.
The day started with a gruelling cross-examination of the youth who pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of the 16-year-old girl.
When court resumed after a mid-morning break, the youth said he wanted to concede all of Crown Prosecutor Chris White’s points. At the time of the murder, he did wish for the death of Hannah Leflar, the teen said.
The admission appeared to catch everybody by surprise, including the youth’s own defence lawyer, Greg Wilson, who can’t advise his client while he’s on the stand.
Justice Lian Schwann stopped the youth from speaking and adjourned for a second break.
Hannah’s mom, Janet Leflar, broke into tears.
The youth sat staring down at his lap.
When the judge came in after the break, she said there were some rather surprising and blunt statements blurted out by the offender after a rather intense cross-examination.
Schwann then adjourned again for lunch, reminding Wilson he could not speak with his client while he’s still under cross-examination.
When court resumed after lunch, shocking details continued to emerge as the youth stood by his earlier statement.
The teen testified he wanted to help Skylar Prockner with the murder, but when it was time, he froze.
He admitted he knew the target was Hannah, not her boyfriend, as he had previously testified.
The teen also agreed he had no reason to kill his friend.
The teen said he lied to his psychologist and caseworkers. He did it so often that he came to believe the lies himself, he said.
The teen agreed with White that his change in heart could have been prompted by hearing 13 victim impact statements and the heartbreak he caused.
Wilson re-directed the youth after cross-examination, and then White asked for a final question.
“What’s worse than killing someone?” he asked.
“Killing several people,” the youth said.
Closing arguments will begin Friday at 10:30 a.m.
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