A fourth teenage girl involved in the deadly stabbing of a Toronto homeless man two years ago pleaded guilty on Wednesday. She was 14 at the time of the circumstances and pleaded liable to killing in the passing of Kenneth Lee, aged 59.
Fourth Teenage Girl Pleads Guilty in Stabbing of Homeless Man
According to police, Lee, who lived in the city's shelter system, was badly assaulted by a group of eight teenage girls in December 2022. Shortly after the circumstances, all eight girls, aged between 13 and 16, were arrested.
Initially facing liabilities of second-degree murder, a judge currently identified that six of the girls would stand trial for this violation, while the remaining two would face arraignment for murder.
Before this current appeal, three other girls had already pleaded guilty in the case: two to killings and one to attack causing bodily harm and violation with a weapon.
Sentencing submissions for all those who have admitted guilt are scheduled in court over the coming months, while a trial hearing is set for those contesting the charges next week.
Authorities believe the teens came together through social media and are from numerous homes across the Greater Toronto Area.
They noted that three of the girls had former encounters with law enforcement, while the others did not. Due to their status as minors, Canadian law bans their identification.
Homeless Man in Toronto Killed by 'Swarming'
Canadian authorities have determined the homeless man who was deadly stabbed and beaten in what police defined as a "swarming" assault, involving a group of eight teenage girls.
Toronto police have named the victim as 59-year-old Ken Lee, revealing that he was killed while attempting to prevent the teens from stealing a bottle of liquor from a friend.
The deadly incident occurred after midnight on December 18, 2022, at a plaza near Toronto's main train station, close to a homeless shelter where Lee had been staying after immigrating from Hong Kong in recent months.
According to authorities, Lee was beaten by a group of girls who proceeded to stab him. Bystanders warned emergency services, and Lee was hurried to a nearby hospital where he later passed away from his wounds.
Facing second-degree murder charges are three 13-year-olds, three 14-year-olds, and two 16-year-olds. Detective Sgt. Terry Browne described the circumstances as "shocking" and "disturbing," noting that each girl had a role in the assault.
Helen Shum, who claims to be Lee's relative, has started a GoFundMe campaign for his family, characterizing Lee as a warmhearted individual who was committed to helping others.
Police believe the girls met near Union Station after connecting on social media and are from various homes across the greater Toronto area. Three of them have had prior run-ins with law enforcement.
Authorities cannot publicly identify the minors involved. One of the accused was granted bail and permitted to return to school, while the others await legal proceedings.
Investigators suspect the altercation began when the girls attempted to take alcohol from Lee's female friend, prompting his intervention.
Doug Johnson Hatlem, a street pastor familiar with Lee's community, emphasized Lee's willingness to protect others, stating, "Nobody was surprised that he would stick up for somebody like that."
The same group of girls is allegedly linked to another altercation earlier on the same evening, consistent with what police describe as a "swarming" behavior.
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