EBD Blog

In “Crown seeks 10-year term for young killer,” Sherri Zickefoose of the Calgary (Alta, CA) Herald reported about the trial of a 14-year-old girl who was convicted of first-degree murder last summer for her contributing to the stabbing deaths of a family of three. The girl was 12 at the time of the murders.

Noting that the “prosecutor says girl is ’significantly disturbed’ and fails to show any remorse” and has requested the maximum punishment, Ms. Zickefoose reported that Justice Scott Brooker is reviewing psychiatric reports.

He is also reviewing a media request to view the reports on which he will base the girl’s sentence.

The girl, who cannot be identified, has both oppositional defiance disorder and conduct disorder, according to psychiatric reports, the hearing in Court of Queen’s Bench was told.

“The young person does not recognize that she has committed a crime, nor does she have any insight into her condition,” said Crown prosecutor Stephanie Cleary, calling the girl “seriously disturbed” and saying she shows no remorse or acceptance of criminal responsibility for her role in the triple slaying.

Court heard the girl suffers from dependency issues, anxiety and depression, and is prone to immature problem-solving and wishful fantasies, though a psychologist hired by the defence said she had no homicidal or sadistic tendencies.

Jeremy Steinke stands accused of actually stabbing the family members, at the encouragement of the girl. Shortly after the girl and Mr. Steinke were arrested, she agreed to marry Mr. Steinke, according to reports in multiple sources. In a story that appeared on MacLeans.ca, James Stevensonof The Canadian Press reported about the jailhouse romance.

Just 18 months ago, the girl and Steinke were arrested in the back of a pickup truck in Leader, Sask. as police combed her blood-soaked house in suburban Medicine Hat.

In the following days, the two exchanged a series of crudely written prison-house

love letters full of spelling mistakes that culminated in Steinke asking for her hand in marriage. The girl, now Canada’s youngest convicted multiple killer, said yes.

“Ahahaha! I never thought I’d find myself hystericaly (sic) laughing in a holding cell in these kinds of circumstances,” wrote the girl. “But still! ahaha you make me so happy! Yes! Yes! I will, I would love to.”

There’s a lot to this story. Whatever the sentence, I hope she gets some good intervention.

Here are some links:

Ms. Zickefoose’s story;
Mr. Stevenson’s coverage of the girl breaking the engagement to Mr. Steinke;
Victoria Times Colonist coverage;