Alliston murder charge upgraded to first degree

Posted July 17, 2012

The 17-year-old female young offender initially charged with second degree murder in the June 23rd stabbing death of 24-year-old Steve Garnier, has been upgraded to First Degree Murder.

Nottawasaga OPP reported this morning that the charges were upgraded "as a result of the continuing investigation" of the incident which occurred during a small gathering of friends at 53 Centre Street in Alliston, just before midnight.

The accused, who cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, remains in custody and housed at the Roy McMurtry Youth Centre in Brampton. It's the province's newest facility for youth serving secure custody sentences. It opened in 2009 with a capacity for 192 including 32 girls. Since opening as a "super jail" for youth, there have been hundreds of complaints filed with the Ontario's Children and Youth Advocate regarding allegations of violence.

Police did not explain what led investigators to upgrade the charges.

"The only thing I can say is in general terms when a 2nd degree murder charge is upgraded to 1st degree murder there must be evidence of mens rea, Latin for 'of the mind' which in English means they had intention," said Nottawasaga OPP Constable Kelly Daniels-Griffis, by email this morning.

Also still to be determined is whether she will be tried as an adult, a situation which will be dealt with in future court appearances.

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