Lethbridge boy, 12, charged with attempted murder of seven-year-old brother, blamed intruder say police

A 12-year-old Lethbridge boy has been charged with the attempted murder of his younger brother, police said Friday.

On Aug. 27, police say a seven-year-old boy was stabbed at a residence in the city’s north side. Police said the 911 call had been made after the boy’s father returned home and found him in serious medical distress. The boy was taken by ambulance to Lethbridge’s Chinook Regional Hospital with critical injuries and was later airlifted to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. He remains in hospital in stable condition.

Police said the boy’s 12-year-old brother allegedly told officers that an unknown male had entered the home and stabbed the child before fleeing. But early in its investigation, police determined that neighbours or the public faced “no ongoing risk.” During a search, police found a knife believed to have been used in the attack.

“As the investigation progressed, evidence was obtained indicating the 12-year-old boy stabbed his brother repeatedly and believed he had killed him, then lied about an intruder entering the home,” alleged Lethbridge police.

During a news conference Friday afternoon, Staff Sgt. Ashlin Snowdon said the brothers were alone in the residence at the time of the incident. Child and Family Services have been contacted, and family members have been put in touch with Lethbridge police’s victim and witness services unit for extra support.

Snowdon said the incident is difficult for everyone involved, including investigators and first responders. The 12-year-old boy, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. He is in custody ahead of a bail hearing. Police continue to investigate.

Attempted murder charge surprising says criminal justice professor

Mount Royal University criminal justice professor Doug King gave Lethbridge police credit for continuing to investigate after allegedly being told by the boy that an unknown man had stabbed the victim. “The police stuck to it, so I think you have to give them some kudos for that,” he said Friday.

But it’s important to remember that those charged in Canada are presumed innocent until proven guilty, said King, adding that 30 per cent of all criminal charges in this country end up being dropped. King was “a bit surprised” at the attempted murder charge, due to murder being so difficult to prove. “Not only does the action have to threaten the life of the victim, but you have to get into the psychology in the mind of the perpetrator and you have to prove in a court of law that they had deliberate intent to kill,” as opposed to a deliberate attempt to hurt, he said.

Youth crime rates are roughly half of adult crime rates, with 12-year-olds committing about 15 per cent of all youth crime — most of that property crime, said King. “These are obviously very rare,” he said, but noted that a 12-year-old Toronto boy has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident in Markham on Aug. 14, when police found a man suffering from gunshot wounds.

stipper@postmedia.com