Winnipeg man facing terrorism charges denied bail

A 19-year-old Winnipeg man facing four terrorism charges has been denied bail.

Nevin Thunder Young appeared in provincial court in Winnipeg on Monday afternoon, wearing glasses with a beard covering his chin, looking thin in an oversized grey sweater.

He spoke briefly to his lawyer but did not address the hearing, which lasted roughly 10 minutes.

Members of Young's family cried after provincial court Judge Brent Stewart gave his decision.

Details of the bail hearing are under a court-imposed publication ban. 

As CBC News previously reported, Young was arrested in January and charged with 26 counts of mischief under $5,000.

He's accused of spray-painting racist and antisemitic graffiti in the Charleswood area.

RCMP later charged him with terrorism offences for alleged involvement in an international extremist group known as MKY. The charges are facilitating a terrorist activity, participating in an activity related to a terrorist group and two counts of commission of an offence for a terrorist group.

Canadian terrorism law shifts the burden of proof in bail hearings from the Crown to the defence, meaning the accused must convince the court that they do not pose a risk to the public if released. Normally, the Crown must argue why a court should deny an accused person bail.

Young's grandmother Alice Nepinak told CBC News in an interview Monday that her grandson has ADHD, global developmental delay and struggles with anger.

"To me he's 12 [years old]. He's not a mature young man of 19 as to the standard people," she said.

"He's like a Grade 6 maturity level, so people don't understand that, and they have to. But I don't know how to get the rage out of my grandson. And if he didn't have that rage, he probably wouldn't have got into this kind of trouble that he's gotten into."

With his bail denied, Young must remain in custody until his trial.

Nepinak says she worries about his mental health and safety while in jail.

Another court hearing has been set for May 26.

The abbreviation MKY comes from the Russian for "maniac murder cult," according to the Global Network on Extremism and Technology. It also goes by other names, including "Maniacs: Cult of Killing," "MMC" and "MKU."

Originating in Russia and Ukraine, it now has members around the world. 

Members have expressed support for neo-Nazi beliefs that encourage violence toward Jewish people and other groups.