Saskatoon police charge teen in group attack on Manitoba woman

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This article was published 23/05/2019 (1797 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 13-year-old girl has been charged in connection with an attack on a Manitoba woman by a group of children in Saskatoon.

“A number of other youth involved have been identified as being involved, however because they are under the age of 12, no charges will be laid,” the Saskatoon Police Service said Friday in a news release.

Bonnie Halcrow, who was visiting from Flin Flon, was swarmed and beaten by a group of children Monday at Pleasant Hill Park after she told them to stop throwing rocks at people.

On Friday, Halcrow said she was disappointed only one of them — a 13-year-old girl — is old enough to be held accountable. 

“It’s really sad to know they aren’t going to be punished,” the 33-year-old mother of three said.

A bystander’s video of the prolonged, disturbing and violent assault shows the children laughing as they surround the woman. She repeatedly tries to get up, is pushed to the ground and punched and kicked. 

The 13-year-old girl alleged to be involved in Monday’s incident is also charged in a May 13 attack that left two girls (ages 10 and 14) with minor injuries. The accused teen appeared in Saskatoon court Friday morning, facing two charges of assault.

Saskatoon police would not say if officers made direct contact with the parents or guardians of the other children identified in the attack on Halcrow.

“Unfortunately, there is little that police can do apart from work with our community partners to try to address the concerning behaviour, but those partners would have to take the lead,” a SPS spokesperson said in an email.

In Winnipeg, city police spokesman Const. Jay Murray said criminal law prevents charges being laid anyone under the age of 12, “but that doesn’t prohibit us from entering into an investigation.”

“Speaking to a child’s guardian/caregiver is certainly an option, as is notifying Child and Family Services,” he said.

Another option available to police in Manitoba is referring the child to the provincial Turnabout program — a prevention initiative that provides children under 12 years of age with the support and direction they need to avoid conflict with the law, said Murray.

In Saskatoon, Halcrow said police told her “they have a program they run the kids through,” but she didn’t know its name.

The SPS said their targeted enforcement section is continuing to investigate attacks by children in the Pleasant Hill Park area — of which there have reportedly been several.

Halcrow she said she was going to the Saskatoon police station Friday to have pictures taken of her injuries, including her bruised back.

“It’s painful,” said Halcrow, adding she is hurting for herself and the children who attacked her. “It’s a story that I’m glad is getting out there. Maybe something will be done for the kids.”

Meanwhile, she’s hoping something can be done for her: to help replace her eyeglasses that were broken during the attack. Halcrow was checking with victim services in Saskatoon and set up an online fundraiser with a $200 target to replace them. 

“I’ve been getting bad headaches from my old prescription I am currently using.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca