WESTLOCK – Westlock Court of Justice ordered a psychological assessment on a youth charged with attempted murder in an incident near Long Island Lake last year.
The youth, who can’t be identified due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is expected to plead guilty in April, court heard. He appeared in court by CCTV from the youth remand centre on March 12.
An agent acting on behalf of the youth’s defence lawyer, requested the Section 34 assessment. This allows for the youth to be assessed by a qualified person, a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other qualified professional. The report will help the court in making a decision related to the youth’s case, including determining if the youth is eligible for a youth sentence or if he requires a specific intervention.
Crown prosecutor Eric Moslely previously told the court that he is seeking to have all four youths charged in the incident to be sentenced as adults if convicted.
Three of the other youth have pleaded not guilty and elected to be tried by judge and jury with a preliminary hearing.
All four youth face charges of attempted murder, robbery, uttering threats, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The charges stem from an incident where Westlock RCMP say four youth allegedly took the woman to a remote wooded area in Westlock County where they tried to kill her and left her for dead in September 2024.
RCMP arrested three youth in September and issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for the fourth youth. That youth turned himself into Edmonton Police in January, where he was arrested. Days later, he was granted bail in Westlock Court of Justice.
Another youth was denied bail following a hearing in February.
