The possibility of raising an attempted murder charge against a teenager to adult court will await his next court appearance.
The 16-year-old suspect made his first appearance in Red Deer youth court on Thursday morning by closed-circuit TV from the Calgary Young Offenders Centre.
His mother and other family members watched from the public gallery in Red Deer as charges were read. The charges included attempted murder, aggravated assault, use of a knife to commit a criminal offence and unlawful possession of a 12-gauge shotgun.
Supported by another member of her family, the mother wept quietly as she waited for her son to take his turn on the docket.
Charges against him stem from an alleged attack on a 39-year-old woman inside a residence in the Hearthstone subdivision of Lacombe at about 8:20 p.m. on April 12.
The accused boy’s name cannot be made public under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. His alleged victim bears the same surname.
Represented by duty counsel for his first appearance, the accused asked that his plea be reserved while he awaits approval for legal aid.
Crown prosecutor Jillian Brown, in response to a question from Judge David Plosz, said the Crown has not yet considered whether to apply to have the charges raised to adult court. Brown said that decision will be made later, once the accused has a lawyer.
The youth remains in custody pending his next court appearance, set for next Thursday via closed-circuit TV. An application for bail is also to be made at that time.