TORONTO — Two ladies accused within the killing of a homeless Toronto man have been swigging liquor from bottles and smoking marijuana with associates at a mall hours earlier than they encountered him in a downtown parkette, one other teen testified Tuesday.
A lady who was a part of the identical social circle advised the courtroom a gaggle of them met up at Toronto’s Yorkdale mall to drink and smoke the evening of Dec. 17, 2022. Half the group deliberate to go to a celebration after they bought drunk, whereas the opposite half was set on going downtown, the lady stated.
The lady stated she introduced a 1.14-litre bottle of Bacardi rum that she’d stolen from the liquor retailer, and another person introduced a 750-millilitre bottle of Crown Royal whisky, which have been handed round because the group sat within the meals courtroom and smoked joints exterior the mall.
Folks have been taking photographs from the bottle and chasing it with comfortable drinks or juice, she stated.
One of many accused ladies, who was 14 on the time, was largely ingesting whisky whereas the opposite, who was 16, was ingesting from the bottle of rum, the pal stated.
She could not recall how a lot every lady drank however estimated all of them, together with herself, have been at a few six or seven out of 10 on a scale of intoxication, with 10 being blackout drunk. The teenager additionally recalled seeing each accused ladies smoking joints that evening.
Ultimately, the group {split} into two, with the lady who testified — who is just not going through any prison charges within the case — opting to go to a celebration with some associates and the 2 accused making their method downtown with a number of others, she stated.
The 2 ladies at the moment on trial are a part of a gaggle of eight charged within the demise of Kenneth Lee, who died in hospital within the early hours of Dec. 18, 2022, after he was crushed and stabbed.
Each have pleaded not responsible to second-degree homicide.
Prosecutors allege the youthful lady stabbed Lee with a knife within the remaining stretch of a violent swarming that appeared to wind down and reignite a number of occasions.
Court docket has heard no knife was recovered within the investigation, however the 14-year-old lady was discovered with two small scissors and a pair of tweezers on the time of her arrest.
The forensic pathologist who examined Lee’s physique beforehand testified that the 59-year-old died from hemorrhagic shock — the gradual shutdown of organs on account of blood loss — after being stabbed within the coronary heart. In her opinion, she stated, it is unlikely these scissors may have brought on the deadly wound, although they may have brought on a smaller stab wound close to Lee’s armpit.
Earlier Tuesday, courtroom heard from a Toronto Transit Fee particular constable who interacted with the group at St. George subway station after they left Yorkdale.
Kyle Tanev testified he believed a few of them had been ingesting, although to not the purpose the place they could not handle themselves or talk correctly.
Whereas he did not see anybody ingesting, Tanev stated he reached that conclusion partly based mostly on the group’s loud and rowdy behaviour on the station — which ultimately bought them kicked out — and since they’d an open bottle of Crown Royal.
An incident report written by Tanev and his companion stated one lady within the group was cautioned for having an open bottle of alcohol that they have been consuming collectively, courtroom heard.
Three different ladies pleaded responsible final yr to manslaughter within the case, and one to assault with a weapon and assault inflicting bodily hurt.
The remaining two ladies are set to face trial by jury in Could, one on a cost of second-degree homicide and one on a cost of manslaughter.
Not one of the teenagers might be recognized due to their age on the time.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Feb. 11, 2025.
Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press
