13-year-old boy charged with murder makes brief court appearance

The 13-year-old boy charged with first-degree murder in rural southwestern Ontario made a brief court appearance Friday.

Wearing a burgundy T-shirt, the boy swiveled in a chair during a video appearance in Goderich court from a youth detention centre. The boy appeared to have his right pinky finger bandaged and his right ring finger was in a larger cast.

The boy’s father and grandmother also attended the court appearance, the court said.

The boy was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday after police were called to Cut Line Road in Central Huron. A youth was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead, Ontario Provincial Police said.

The victim is a girl the same age as the accused, residents of Homesville, a town in southwestern Ontario, told CBC News.

Police collected evidence around an abandoned elementary school on Thursday.

The boy’s identity, as well as that of the victim and all witnesses, are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The boy’s attorney, Robert Morris, has scheduled another court appearance for July 11, via Zoom. The boy remains in custody.

The incident and the young age of the accused boy have rocked the small rural community, located about 90 kilometres north of London, where neighbours told CBC News there is a sense of concern and unease.