Teen pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of homeless man in Toronto

TORONTO — A third girl accused in the death of a homeless Toronto man pleaded guilty Monday.

The teenager, who was 13 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Kenneth Lee.

Police said Lee, who was 59 and lived in the city’s shelter system, died after being stabbed and stabbed by a group of girls in December 2022.

Eight girls, ages 13 to 16, were arrested shortly afterward and charged with second-degree murder.

A judge recently sentenced six of them to trial for second-degree murder and two for a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Two other girls previously pleaded guilty in the case – one to manslaughter and the other to assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

A fourth girl was expected to plead guilty on Monday, but her lawyer asked for more time to decide whether to plead or proceed with a Superior Court trial. She is due back in court on Wednesday to deliver her decision.

The court did not hear what charge he was initially expected to plead to.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press