In a case that has shocked Toronto residents, a 16-year-old girl has been convicted of second-degree murder for her role in a brutal stabbing attack on a homeless man last year. The conviction, handed down Wednesday by Justice David Harris of the Ontario Court of Justice, marks a tragic culmination to a disturbing crime that has raised uncomfortable questions about youth violence in Canada’s largest city.
The teenager, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was part of a group of eight youths who surrounded and attacked Ken Lee, 59, near Toronto’s University Avenue and York Street intersection on December 18, 2022. Court evidence revealed that the victim, who had been staying at a nearby homeless shelter, suffered three stab wounds, including a fatal injury to his chest that penetrated his heart.
“This was not a random encounter but rather a targeted attack on a vulnerable individual,” said Crown prosecutor Lisa Henderson during final arguments. “The evidence clearly demonstrated coordination among the group of young people who sought out the victim.”
According to court documents, the confrontation began when one of the girls in the group asked Lee and a female friend for a cigarette. The situation rapidly escalated when Lee’s friend objected to derogatory language used by the teens. Surveillance footage shown during the trial captured the ensuing violence, with the group of teens surrounding and attacking both Lee and his companion.
The defense had argued that the convicted girl was not the one who delivered the fatal stab wound, but Justice Harris determined that her participation in the coordinated attack made her criminally responsible under Canadian law. The court heard that the teenagers had been drinking alcohol and consuming drugs earlier that evening at a downtown Toronto condo.
“While she may not have wielded the knife, her actions directly contributed to creating the circumstances that led to Mr. Lee’s death,” Justice Harris stated in his ruling. “The law is clear that all participants in such group attacks share responsibility for the foreseeable consequences.”
The case has prompted intense discussion about youth violence in Toronto and raised questions about how eight teenagers from middle-class backgrounds could commit such a heinous act. Social workers and criminologists point to complex factors including peer pressure, substance abuse, and a disconnection from the consequences of violent behavior.
“What we’re seeing in cases like this is a concerning trend where vulnerable individuals, particularly those experiencing homelessness, become targets,” said Dr. Marian Fitzgerald, a criminologist at the University of Toronto who has been following the case. “There’s an element of dehumanization that allows young people to commit acts they would otherwise find unthinkable.”
The convicted teen now faces a maximum sentence of seven years under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, with a portion to be served in custody and the remainder under community supervision. Sentencing hearings are scheduled to begin next month, with the prosecution indicating they will seek the maximum penalty available.
For Toronto’s homeless community, the case has heightened existing concerns about safety. “This tragedy highlights the additional vulnerabilities faced by those experiencing homelessness,” said Michael Roberts, executive director of Street Outreach Toronto. “Beyond lacking shelter, they often face heightened risks of violence and victimization.”
As our city grapples with this disturbing crime, we must ask ourselves: What societal failures allow young people to become so disconnected from empathy and compassion that they could commit such an act against one of our most vulnerable citizens, and how can we address the root causes before more lives are destroyed?
