First teen sentenced in Kenneth Lee case gets 15 months probation

The first teenager to be sentenced in the death of a Toronto homeless man will not face further time in custody, and instead participate in a community-based program.

The first teenager to be sentenced in the death of a Toronto homeless man will not face further time in custody, and instead participate in a community-based program.

The girl – who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was 13 at the time of the alleged December 2022 attack on Kenneth Lee – was credited for 15 months of pre-trial custody and will serve another 15 months of probation under an Intensive Support and Supervision Program.

Justice David Stewart Rose said Monday the sentence reflects that the teen has taken accountability for her actions, that community interventions appear to be working and that she experienced institutional malfeasance while in custody.

He said the teen was forced to strip naked during searches a total of seven times. She was also taken to a remote detention facility far from family, and institutional staff didn't always take her to court when necessary, he said.

"Further custodial sentence is not necessary to meet the need of accountability," Rose said, adding that the teen is at the lower end of the range when it comes to the likelihood to reoffend violently.

Police have alleged that Lee, who was 59 and living in the city's shelter system, died after he was swarmed and stabbed by a group of girls. In his sentencing decision, Rose described what happened as "vicious and cowardly."

Seven other teens, who were between the ages of 13 and 16 at the time, were arrested and charged in the case.