Eight teenage girls facing second-degree murder charges for the swarming and killing of a formerly homeless man made their first court appearance Thursday.
And one of the accused teens was released on bail.
Toronto Police were called to an assault in the area of York St. and University Ave. where a man had been beaten and stabbed by a group of teen girls just after midnight on Dec. 18.
The 59-year-old homeless man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.
Three 13-year-old girls, three 14-year-old girls and two 16-year-old girls have each been charged with second-degree murder.
Police allege the accused met on social media and come from different parts of the city.
They can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and there is a publication ban in the case.
Seven of the girls in custody made their court appearance by video link — none showing any emotion.
They are scheduled to return to court next year on Jan. 5 for bail hearings.
During their brief first appearance, a lawyer for one of the accused requested Crown lawyers disclose a video of the alleged attack posted on the popular online video platform TikTok.
A judge said some of the teens are still in the process of retaining a lawyer, so that was also why the case needs to be put over.
An eighth girl made appeared in court later on Thursday and was released on $9,500 bail with two sureties and several conditions, such as no weapons, cellphone or internet use.
No reason was given why the eighth girl was separated from the other seven.
She has a return court date of Jan. 10.
— With files from CP
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