Girl who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in fatal swarming attack sentenced to probation
Teen Girl Sentenced to Probation in Deadly Attack on Homeless Man in Toronto
A teenage girl who admitted to manslaughter in a group attack on a homeless man in Toronto has been sentenced to 15 months of probation. The judge took into account the time she had already spent in custody and the “unlawful” strip searches she was subjected to.
In a surprising turn of events, the girl pleaded guilty in February while she and another teen were on trial for second-degree murder in the death of 59-year-old Kenneth Lee. The incident occurred in a downtown Toronto parkette in December 2022 and reportedly involved eight girls.
The fatal attack was captured on security video, which played a key role in the trial. The footage showed the group swarming the homeless man, leading to his tragic death.
Following the plea agreement, the judge handed down the sentence on Friday. Both the Crown and defense agreed on the probation term, considering the 288 days the girl had already spent in custody and the six strip searches she endured.
Initially, eight girls between the ages of 13 and 16 were arrested and charged with second-degree murder. However, seven of them have since pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Five girls admitted to manslaughter, one to assault, and one to assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.
Currently, one girl is awaiting a verdict in a judge-alone trial. She attempted to plead guilty to manslaughter, but the Crown rejected her plea.
