A teenage witness took the stand at a manslaughter trial on Tuesday, recounting the harrowing moments she saw a deadly assault take place.
The 17-year-old, whose identity is protected under a publication ban, testified that she was walking home from school when she saw a group of people gathered around a young boy lying on the ground.
“I just wanted to see if the boy was okay,” she said, describing her initial reaction to the scene.
The witness told the court that she saw a man, later identified as the accused, repeatedly punch and kick the boy while he was on the ground. She also stated that she heard the accused yelling at the boy to “stay down.”
The teenager said she was too scared to intervene and instead called 911. She also took a video of the incident, which was shown in court.
The accused, who cannot be named due to a publication ban, is facing a charge of manslaughter in the death of the 14-year-old victim. The incident took place in a park in Edmonton in 2019.
During cross-examination, the defense questioned the witness about her actions and why she didn’t try to stop the assault. The witness explained that she was afraid and didn’t want to put herself in danger.
The trial is expected to continue for several more weeks, with more witnesses set to take the stand. The accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court also heard from the victim’s mother, who tearfully described her son as a kind and loving boy who had a passion for sports.
The trial is a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of violence in our communities. As the proceedings continue, we hope for justice to be served and for the victim’s family to find closure.
