'Need to be held accountable': Family of slain Edmonton teen want changes to youth justice system
Family members of the Edmonton teenager who died after being assaulted outside of his high school are calling for changes to how youth are legally tried in Canada to help bring justice to victims.
Karanveer Sahota was attacked outside of McNally High School on April 8 and died of his injuries a week later.
Initially, seven youths were charged with attempted murder, but on Friday, the Edmonton Police Service announced second-degree murder charges against a 17-year-old female, two 16-year-old males, two 15-year-old males and two 14-year-old males.
The 17-year-old female was also charged with obstruction.
Shivleen Sidhu and Monica Binns, two of his cousins, said the Sahota family was relieved and satisfied that seven youths were charged with second-degree murder.
"These seven individuals murdered our little cousin," Sidhu said.
"This is the first step, that these charges (were) laid," she added. "We know we have a long way ahead."
Binns says the family would like to see the charged youths tried as adults and that the public deserves to know the identities of those involved in the attack.
"Just because they were 16 doesn't excuse their behaviour," Binns said. "They were adults in that moment making conscious decisions."
"These murderers need to be punished as adults," Sidhu said. "If they are not, this will be a grave injustice to Karan. It will be a grave injustice to Karan if their identities continue to be protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
"It is not enough to simply follow archaic precedent and legislation if this precedent and legislation does not do our victims justice," she added. "If Karanveer’s case needs to set new laws to adequately serve him justice, then so be it.
"These murderers need to be held accountable for their actions and that is in the public's best interests."
When asked how Sahota's parents are coping, Sidhu said they remain immensely distraught and struggle to comprehend what happened.
"They are not holding up," Sidhu said. "They are in utter shock to their body and emotional states. They are not doing well. We are trying to help them as a family, to be strong and to support them."
Last weekend, Binns organized a GoFundMe to help support Sahota's parents and sister as they grieve and heal. Initially, the goal was to raise $100,000. As of publication, it has raised more than $233,000.
"Every single cent of it will go toward that family and their living expenses," Binns said. "The outpouring of support is beyond our wildest imagination. It gives us the strength and power to continue this fight."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip
Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.