One of the four youth charged in the brutal attack of an 18-year-old woman near Long Island Lake campground has pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
The youth, who can’t be identified due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared by CCTV in Westlock Court of Justice on April 23 from an Alberta psychiatric hospital where he had undergone a psychological assessment to determine if he is eligible for a youth sentence or if he requires a specific intervention.
He is expected to be sentenced on Sept. 10. The Crown said the sentencing hearing will take approximately three hours.
The four youth are accused of taking the woman to a remote wooded area in Westlock County where they tried to kill her and left her for dead on Sept. 7, 2024.
Three youth were arrested in September 2024 and police issued a Canada-wide warrant for the fourth youth, who has dual citizenship. He was eventually arrested by Edmonton police in January and granted bail days later. Another youth was denied bail in February. Two of the youth haven’t had bail hearings and remain in custody. The three remaining youth are Indigenous.
All four were charged with attempted murder, robbery, uttering threats against a person, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and failing to comply with release conditions.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September for three of the youth. They have elected to be tried by judge and jury.
The Crown is seeking to have all fourth youth sentenced as adults.
