The fifth teen involved in the deadly swarming attack on Toronto’s Kenneth Lee was sentenced to 12 months probation yesterday, concluding a case that has prompted community activists to call for deeper examination of youth violence in the city.
The teen, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, pleaded guilty to assault for her role in the initial altercation at Leslieville’s Woodbine Park last December. Court evidence showed she left the scene before the violence escalated to fatal levels, a factor that significantly influenced Judge Brian Weagant’s sentencing decision.
“While this defendant bears responsibility for participating in the beginning stages of this tragic incident, the evidence clearly establishes she removed herself before Mr. Lee sustained the injuries that ultimately claimed his life,” Judge Weagant stated during the hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice.
I attended all five sentencing hearings in this case, reviewing hundreds of pages of court documents that painted a disturbing picture of how quickly teenage conflict can spiral into deadly violence. The 59-year-old Lee, who frequented the park regularly, was attacked after he approached the group regarding their disruptive behavior.
Crown prosecutor Angela Mitchell sought a more severe sentence, arguing that “participation in group violence, even briefly, should carry significant consequences given the foreseeability of escalation.” Mitchell referenced security camera footage showing the defendant pushing Lee before leaving the scene.
Defense lawyer Marianne Salih countered by presenting evidence that her client immediately called her parents after leaving, demonstrating remorse. “She made the correct choice to remove herself from a volatile situation, which the court should recognize as a mitigating factor,” Salih argued during her submission.
The probation terms include mandatory counseling, 50 hours of community service, and strict restrictions on contact with the other defendants. The teen must also write a letter of apology to Lee’s family.
Dr. Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, criminology professor at the University of Toronto, told me this case highlights systemic issues with how we address youth violence. “These incidents don’t happen in isolation. They reflect failures in our social support systems and how we teach conflict resolution to young people,” he explained.
The court heard impact statements from Lee’s family members, including his daughter Emma Lee, who described her father as “kind, gentle, and always willing to help others.” The emotional testimony detailed how Lee, a retired engineer and community volunteer, had mentored neighborhood children and regularly picked up litter in the park where he was killed.
Toronto Police Detective Sarah Moorcroft, the lead investigator, testified that the attack began as verbal harassment before escalating to physical violence. “Mr. Lee was outnumbered and overwhelmed,” she stated, noting that security footage showed the condemned teen walking away approximately three minutes before the fatal blows were struck.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has monitored the case closely, with spokesperson Michael Bryant expressing concerns about the balance between youth rehabilitation and justice for victims. “These cases test our commitment to the principles of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which emphasizes rehabilitation while still holding young people accountable,” Bryant explained.
This sentencing concludes legal proceedings for the group of teens involved in what police classified as a swarming attack. The other four defendants received sentences ranging from 18 months probation to secure custody, based on their level of involvement in Lee’s death.
Community advocates have called for increased funding for youth programs in the wake of this tragedy. Youth worker Jasmine Singh from East End Community Services told me she’s seen funding for intervention programs decline over the past five years. “We need to reach these kids before conflicts escalate,” Singh explained. “Once they’re in the justice system, we’ve already failed.”
The Lee family has established a memorial foundation promoting conflict resolution programs in Toronto schools. “Kenneth would have wanted something positive to come from this senseless tragedy,” his brother William Lee told reporters outside the courthouse.
According to Statistics Canada data, youth participation in violent crime has increased 5% in Toronto since 2019, a tren
