Final teen on trial for Edmonton high schooler stabbing found guilty of manslaughter

The final teen in a group of seven charged in the killing of a 16-year-old boy outside an Edmonton high school has been found guilty of manslaughter.

The young man, who was 15 at the time of the assault, was the first to go to trial in 2024, where court heard several days of testimony from witnesses about the fatal stabbing on April 8, 2022.

After the trial was adjourned for nearly a year, he's the last to see his case conclude.

The teen's former defence lawyer, Brian Beresh, had argued his client's legal position was unclear after the Crown's case, and he needed more time to consider how to proceed.

But there wasn't further evidence presented when the trial resumed on Tuesday, with lawyer Rod Gregory now representing the young man, and Court of King's Bench Justice Gillian Marriott handed down her decision.

The seven accused were all younger than 18 when they were arrested, and the Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits identifying them.

The latest court decision comes ahead of the three-year anniversary of the stabbing, and the Grade 10 student's death in hospital a few days later.

He also can't be named due to a court-ordered publication ban.

Outside the Edmonton courthouse on Tuesday, the boy's cousin said the family is ready for the ordeal to be over, after dozens of court dates across multiple cases, and repeatedly hearing the details of their loved one's last moments.

"We are so paused in that journey to healing because of court, reappearing and revisiting," she said.

"It just brings up those emotions. We haven't even started step one of the healing process. Other people can get together and celebrate their loved ones — we are not there yet."

A sentencing hearing for the teenager in this case is expected to proceed Wednesday.

Two other young men who went on trial together were found guilty of manslaughter in January, and they're set to be sentenced later this year.

Over the past two years, the four remaining accused have been sentenced after pleading guilty:

• A woman who was 17 at the time of the attack admitted that she drove a car away from the scene. She pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to an assault with a weapon, and was sentenced to 12 months probation.
• A young man who was 15 at the time admitted to driving a different car from the scene. He pleaded guilty to the same charge and received the same sentence as the driver of the other vehicle.
• A teen who was 15 at the time admitted to being part of a group assault on the victim, but did not stab or punch him. The teen pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received four months in jail.
• A teen who was 14 at the time admitted to stabbing the victim once and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail followed by 18 months of probation.