**warning: this story contains details that some readers might find disturbing
A Holmesville youth has pleaded guilty to first degree murder in the death of a young girl.
The teen appeared in Goderich court Tuesday morning to enter the plea, telling the Honourable Marc Garson that he was doing so voluntarily.
Justice Garson told the court the charge of first degree murder was warranted under Canadian Law, as it happened in the course of committing or attempting to commit sexual assault.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the identify of both the offender and the victim are subject to a publication ban.
After the plea was entered and accepted by Justice Garson, the packed courtroom then heard the agreed statement of facts for the events that transpired in Central Huron on July 2, 2024. Some of the evidence is subject to a sealing order due to its highly sensitive nature.
According to the agreed upon facts, the boy — who was 13 at the time — stabbed the 11-year-old girl over 70 times in the wooded area near the former Holmesville Public School, after she wouldn't consent to having sex with him.
After a period of time, he then called 911, falsely reporting that the victim had been taken by three men. The courtroom heard audio of the roughly 14-minute call.
The youth was found by a Huron OPP officer a distance away, covered in blood. A video of the youth sitting in the back of a police car directing the officer to where the incident occurred was also shown in court.
Police searched the area and found the victim, with her jeans removed. She was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to hospital. The youth was arrested and charged the same afternoon.
Before the matter will return for sentencing, the judge ordered another psychological assessment under Section 34. The case had previously been delayed for an assessment to see if the youth could stand trial, but now the assessment will help guide the sentencing. The matter will return to court on August 10 for an update on the assessment, with sentencing to occur at a later date.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the maximum sentence for being found guilty of first-degree murder is 10 years, with a maximum of six years in custody and four served in community.
The youth has been in a detention centre for almost two years.
