Crown pushes for pleas, new lawyer expected in Evan Hardy assault case

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The Crown is pushing for pleas to be entered in the case of a 14-year-old girl accused of lighting another teen on fire at a Saskatoon high school, saying the step needs to be taken “to move things along.”

On Wednesday, Crown prosecutor Ainsley Furlonger said there is sufficient disclosure to enter a plea — which has to be done before a case management date can be set — and “nothing should be surprising” about the most recent disclosure, which includes medical and cellphone records.

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Case management conferences are private discussions held between lawyers and an accused person before a case proceeds to trial or sentencing.

Defence lawyer Stephanie Pankiw told court that she wasn’t expecting further cellphone disclosure, and needs to review the medical records before she can proceed to case management.

She also indicated that she will be moving in the new year, and expects a new lawyer to take over the file when the case is next in court on Jan. 6.

Pankiw waived delay — which means the defence will take responsibility for the lost time. The accused teen didn’t appear in Saskatoon youth court, as her attendance was also waived.

She’s charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm and arson after allegedly dousing another student in liquid and lighting her on fire in the hallway of Evan Hardy Collegiate on Sept. 5.

A teacher who tried to intervene was also injured during the incident, which stopped when a school resource officer arrested the girl.

During her appearance last month, court heard she was facing new institutional charges of uttering threats and assaulting a peace officer while in custody on Nov. 8.

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The identities of the accused and youth victim are banned from publication under statutory provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The 15-year-old victim remains hospitalized in Edmonton.

The Crown previously gave notice that it will seek an adult sentence for the accused teen. Before pleas are entered, the Crown is required to notify the accused and the court if it intends to pursue an adult sentence.

The maximum youth sentence for attempted murder is three years; the maximum adult sentence is life imprisonment.

In September, an NCR (not criminally responsible) assessment was ordered at Pankiw’s request. She told court the accused had said during her arrest and while giving a subsequent police statement that “voices told her to do things.”

Pankiw also said the girl had received prior psychiatric care during emergency room visits this summer.

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