The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
RCMP believe the 16-year-old Flin Flon girl accused of trying to kill a man in a video-recorded assault knew the victim, but they are not family. That's one of several new details emerging in a case that is making headlines across the province. Sgt. Rob Lockhart, a Manitoba spokesperson for the RCMP, would not go beyond those details in describing the relationship between the victim and the accused. He confirmed that the accused, the 21-year-old victim and the 19-year-old woman who allegedly video-recorded the assault are all Flin Flon residents. Sgt. Lockhart did not have information on whether the victim was hospitalized, but said he was seriously injured. He could not disclose whether a weapon was involved in the assault. The assault did not occur in the downtown area as had been rumoured. Police did not want to be any more specific about the location at this time. Sgt. Lockhart said the assault occurred approximately three months ago, around July 21 or so, but only came to light last month. Flin Flon RCMP launched their investigation into the incident on Sept. 13 after an individual provided police with video evidence. The individual was someone other than the accused, the victim or the woman whom police say filmed the incident, Sgt. Lockhart said. Not online As far as police know, the video was not posted online, as had also been rumoured. As a result of their investigation, police announced late last week that they have charged the 16-year-old girl with attempted murder and aggravated assault. It is rare but possible for a 16-year-old in Manitoba to be tried as an adult on the charge of attempted murder. In deciding this, the Crown prosecutor and the court would look at the severity of the crime as well as the age, background, maturity, character and previous record of the accused, a legal expert told The Reminder. The maximum sentence for a youth convicted as a minor of attempted murder is three years. The maximum sentence if tried as an adult is life in prison. Minors cannot be charged as adults for aggravated assault. The maximum sentence for a youth convicted of this crime is two years in custody. This particular case is a long way from such considerations, however. For one, it's never certain that the charges RCMP lay will stand up in court. For another, there is no indication as to how the accused plans to plead. The 16-year-old girl is due to appear in Flin Flon Provincial Court on Nov. 7. Also appearing in court that day will be the 19-year-old accused of filming the assault. She has been charged with aggravated assault. The name of the 16-year-old cannot be released by law. The 19-year-old's name is not being released to protect the identity of the younger accused.
