Juliano Vieira's teenage killers convicted of manslaughter
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: June 28, 2016 4:32 PM | Last Updated: June 28, 2016
The young men were 16 and 17 years old at the time of the attack and can't be named
After two teens were found guilty Tuesday morning in the swarming death of Juliano Vieria, the prosecutor said it should be a lesson to other young people who find themselves involved in alcohol-fuelled group violence.
Both were convicted of manslaughter but because they were 16 and 17 years old at the time of the crime, they cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Juliano Vieira was a grade 11 student who died after being punched, kicked and stabbed by a group of partygoers in March 2014.
"This is such a tragedy that nobody can bring this young person back and it's tragic that there are all these other young people that have been involved," said prosecutor Katherine Love.
"But it's important that young people be held accountable for their actions and know that acting in a group, using violence, fuelled by alcohol is a recipe for disaster and you will be held responsible for your actions."
Vieira's mother quickly left the courthouse after the decision was handed down.
- Juliano Vieira's accused killers now on trial for manslaughter
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The fatal altercation began around midnight on March 8, 2014 in the southwest community of Braeside when the host of a high school house party asked everyone to leave.
At that point an argument between two groups of friends became violent. Some of the teens in the groups had a history of "bad blood" according to prosecutor Katherine Love.
Vieira was in no way the aggressor but he became the target of the group, according to Love.
"The evidence convinces me beyond a reasonable doubt that both J.L. and T.P. took part in a group attack, which resulted in the death of Juliano," said youth court Judge Nick D'Souza when reading his decision.
'This ... is the worst case scenario'
The decision was met with disappointment from one of the accused who admitted to punching the victim but who was not directly responsible for the fatal injuries.
The young man's lawyer, George Sirois said his clients lesser moral culpability will likely be reflected when sentences are handed down.
"With the respect to your level of involvement, this, as far as my client is concerned, is the worst case scenario," said Sirois.
"He throws a few punches and he's all of a sudden in the same boat as people who use knives and batons and bottles as weapons."
Two others are charged in connection with his death — Trent Hynne is charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder, and Roland Smith is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and carrying a concealed weapon.
The prosecution team of Love and Levi Cammack will not seek adult sentences for the young men, now 18 and 19 years old.
A sentencing hearing will take place in December after psychiatric and risk assessment reports are completed on the young men.