The teenager charged with first-degree murder in the June death of a York Regional Police officer has been granted bail.
The Newmarket boy was released after a Nov. 28 bail hearing, his lawyer confirmed late Tuesday. He cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The youth, who was 15 at the time of the incident, remains a quadriplegic and isn’t expected to regain the use of his arms or legs, lawyer David Berg said.
Const. Garrett Styles, 32, died in the early hours of June 28 after he attempted to pull over a speeding minivan with four people inside.
At one point, Styles reached in to grab the keys and the van lurched forward, dragging him 300 metres before the van hit a ditch and rolled on top of him.
Styles left a wife and two young children.
Berg told reporters in September that the boy was “extremely depressed” and spending his days in hospital undergoing occupational and physical therapy.
Berg said his client can talk easily and has all his mental faculties, even though he apparently lost consciousness at some point during the incident.
The Crown has indicated that it would seek an adult sentence if the youth is convicted of first-degree murder, which would mean life in prison.
The next court date for the accused is Feb. 8 in Newmarket.
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1101563--teen-charged-in-officer-s-dragging-death-granted-bail?bn=1
