Young teen who killed homeless man may be sent to group home
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: November 9, 2015 10:30 PM | Last Updated: November 9, 2015
Gabriel Okeynan was stabbed to death and died outside Marlborough Mall last year
A Calgary teen who helped kill a homeless man cried and hugged his father during his sentencing hearing today, before finding out he could be allowed to spend the rest of his sentence in a group home.
Earlier in the day, an older teen was found guilty of manslaughter for killing Gabriel Okeynan, a 45-year-old man who was homeless when he was killed in June 2014.
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The younger teen had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter. His sentencing hearing Monday was delayed so the boy's father could be brought from the Calgary Remand Centre, where he's being held on drug-related charges.
The boy, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, broke down crying when his father was brought into the prisoners box and hugged him.
The two sat shoulder to shoulder while the lawyers made their submissions.
Okeynan was robbed and beaten as well as stabbed near Marlborough Mall in June 2014.
His uncle read a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing.
"You guys have each other but I don't have my nephew," said Derwin Okeynan. "We grieve a lot. We suffer a lot."
Teen needs 'structure and support,' Crown says
The prosecution proposed the maximum sentence for a youth convicted of manslaughter — three years in custody, a community supervision order, or a combination of the two.
With the time he's already served at the Calgary Young Offenders Centre, the teen would spend another nine months in open custody, which means he would live in a group home.
"The young person is in need of structure and support," said Crown prosecutor Darren Maloney.
Defence lawyer Will Willier also said the teen should not spend any more time in custody but refused to clarify his position.
To be sentenced Monday
Justice Scott Brooker will decide on a sentence next Monday.
Two boys, who were 13 and 16 years old at the time, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death.
The older teen who was found guilty of manslaughter on Monday will have a sentencing hearing in the coming months after psychiatric reports are completed.