EDMONTON -- Four teens charged with manslaughter in the beating death of a man on a city bus made their first appearance in youth court yesterday wearing handcuffs and shackles.
However, friends of the accused said outside court the teens are actually "good people" who are fun-loving and respectful of their parents.
The boys, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, showed little emotion as they stood in the prisoner's box.
Gasps were heard in the packed courtroom as Judge James Koshman told the four accused they could be sentenced as adults if convicted in the slaying of Stefan Conley, 35.
The prosecutor told Koshman the mothers of some of the accused and one of their aunts were in court and all of the parents had been notified of the court appearance.
Lawyers for the teens reserved their pleas. The case was adjourned until Friday.
Three of the youths are 17, one is 16 and all live in the Mill Woods area. The 16-year-old also faces one charge of failing to report to his probation officer.
Police arrived 25 minutes after receiving the first call from Edmonton Transit. ETS called three times before cops responded. Edmonton's police Chief Mike Boyd has ordered a review of the police response.
But police transit liaison Insp. Mike Derbyshire said the system of alerting a supervisor works and shouldn't be messed with.
Another report I read on this outrage said these cowardly thugs were drunk and attacked and kicked this poor guy to death when he told them to quiet down.Outside court, a 16-year-old friend of the accused said he was "very surprised" by the charges.
"All I can say is that they are young, fun-loving kids who respect their parents," he said.
"And they don't deserve to be in the place where they are right now."
Needless to say he DIDNT DESERVE THAT YOU GREASY LITTLE SCUMBAG PIECES OF SHIT!!!
Note to bail court judge...don't give these little fuckers a millimeter of slack.
KEEP THEM IN JAIL UNTIL THEY ARE CONVICTED AND SENT TO PRISON.