NANAIMO — A disturbing case of violence and humiliation at a Nanaimo shopping centre resulted in a Youth Criminal Justice Act conviction.
The 13-year-old unnamed offender and an accomplice directed the youth victim to the ground and made him eat cat food after being guided by the duo to Country Club Centre’s entryway on Oct. 3, 2024.
Crown Counsel’s Kaitlyn Tourangeau told a recent sentencing hearing in Nanaimo the offender and his accomplice instructed the victim to kiss his feet.
Both youths then kicked the vulnerable boy, who was crying throughout the ordeal, court was told during an agreed statement of facts.
“It’s completely unacceptable and I would submit that we are seeing more frequent violence,” Tourangeau said.
There were indications one of the offending youths filmed the incident and a machete was seen by the victim.
An exterior mall security camera captured the encounter and aided the police investigation and prosecution.
The victim did not require medical attention, nor did he provide a victim impact statement, however court was told what occurred left him feeling afraid and humiliated.
While all three parties are known to each other, the offender claimed he didn’t realize the victim has cognitive challenges.
Pre-sentence and psychological assessments revealed the youth’s upbringing previously involved being around mentors who abused substances.
The offender was remorseful, didn’t minimize his conduct, has displayed improved behaviour, and indicated he doesn’t want to be a violent person anymore.
He was credited for making an early guilty plea to the assault charge and being cooperative with both report authors and his youth worker.
Judge Karen Whonnock emphasized how much worse this incident could have turned out.
“If there’s a kick to the head for example, it could result in a fatality. You’re very fortunate that nothing like that happened here.”
During a brief statement to the court, the boy acknowledged his poor conduct and his commitment to remaining on a more positive path.
The boy, who had no prior criminal record, was handed 12 months’ probation, which includes no contact orders, counselling provisions, and a weapons ban, including intoxicating sprays.
The legal status of the co-accused has not been specified to NanaimoNewsNOW.
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