Defence lawyers Danielle O’Sullivan and Tony Amoud speak with reporters Thursday after their client, a 16-year-old Halifax boy, pleaded guilty in youth court to seven charges involving weapons seized at his home following his April 23 arrest on threats charges. Photo by Steve BruceArticle contentA 16-year-old Halifax boy who was arrested in April and accused of planning to shoot up his school has pleaded guilty to seven more weapons-related charges.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe teen’s identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.Article contentArticle contentHe was apprehended at home April 23 after Halifax Regional Police received a tip from a suicide hotline operator that the youth had allegedly shared thoughts about committing a shooting at Citadel High School and then taking his own life.Article contentArticle contentIn June, the boy accepted responsibility in Halifax youth court for one of the 33 offences with which he was charged – careless storage of ammunition.Article contentJudge Bronwyn Duffy ordered a psychological assessment on the teen at the request of the defence and scheduled a sentencing hearing for Sept. 3.Article contentFurther negotiations between defence lawyers Tony Amoud and Danielle O’Sullivan and Crown attorneys Terry Nickerson and Samantha Allen resulted in additional guilty pleas being entered Thursday in front of Judge Barbara Beach.Article contentThe boy pleaded guilty to six charges of unauthorized possession of a firearm – specifically four rifles and two shotguns seized from his home – and one count of unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, brass knuckles.Article contentThe Crown withdrew the remaining 25 charges, which included four counts of uttering threats to cause bodily harm or death and two counts of creating online groups promoting hatred against the African Nova Scotian and Jewish communities.Article contentArticle contentIn court documents, police alleged the teen made threats against Citadel students in general and three male students in particular.Article contentFacts to support all eight guilty pleas will be read into the record at the teen’s sentencing hearing in September.Article contentThe boy is in custody at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville. He was denied bail May 13 following a two-day hearing in youth court.Article content“I can’t go into the brains of the Crown prosecutors, but we believe that our client pled guilty today to the charges that he’s guilty of and that were provable,” Amoud said outside court after Thursday’s appearance. “That’s the position we shared with the Crown prosecutors.”Article contentHe said the psychological assessment that was ordered in June should be completed “any day now.”Article content“That will be shared with the court and the lawyers and will essentially assist us in determining the appropriate sentence for our client,” Amoud said.Article content“This young man has been sitting in custody since April. That’s a long time for someone his age. Our position likely will be that he should be out sooner rather than later.Article content“Whether there’s some structure, house arrest, that sort of thing, we still have to look at. But as it pertains to his actually being in jail, we think it’s been long enough, and our position will be that he gets some type of release and a sentence that focuses on rehabilitation.”Article content
Halifax teen arrested on suspicion of planning school shooting pleads guilty to weapons offences
