Two teen girls who are charged with second-degree murder in connection with what police have called a “swarming” attack on┬аToronto man Ken Lee in December have been denied bail.
Full-day bail hearings took place for both of the accused on separate days last month. Justice Maria Sirivar had reserved her decision on their respective releases until Tuesday.
Four┬аgirls who are facing charges in the case have already been released on bail.┬а
The remaining two youths who have yet to have a bail decision are set to appear in court for hearings this Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Lee, 59, was pronounced dead in hospital after he was allegedly beaten and stabbed by a group of girls not far from a downtown Toronto shelter in the early morning hours of Dec. 18, 2022.
Eight teenage girls тАФ ranging in age┬аfrom 13 to 16 тАФ have been charged in connection with the case.┬аTheir identities cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The bail hearing process began in court earlier in January┬аfor seven of the accused girls.┬аAt that hearing, dates were scheduled for each of the remaining teens┬аto have their own day in court to seek bail.
The eighth teen facing charges┬аwas granted bail back┬аin December. All of the bail hearings are being heard at the courthouse at 311 Jarvis St. in Toronto.
A pre-trial publication ban covering any evidence described in court during these hearings is in place.
Typically, bail hearings fall under commonplace publication bans that are largely meant to protect the integrity of upcoming trials. At a bail hearing, lawyers can provide evidence┬аthat could later end up being shown at a trial┬аas part of arguments as to why an accused person should or should not be granted bail.
If that evidence was published or broadcast at the outset, there is a possibility it could taint a prospective jury pool. Spectators in court тАФ including journalists тАФ are able to view that evidence as part of the bail hearing process, but cannot disseminate it until the publication ban drops (which, in the case of a jury trial, is often when jurors start deliberations┬аunless a judge orders other conditions).
