Teen charged in York cop's death appears in court

[gotchya]

NEWMARKET - A paralyzed Newmarket teenager accused of rolling a van and killing a York Regional Police officer last year appeared in court for the first time Monday.

The teen, who was 15 at the time of the incident and cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was brought to the Newmarket courthouse in a wheelchair by his mother and father for what is expected to be a month-long preliminary hearing.

The 16-year-old, who wore a black shirt, slacks, and a grey tie, remained in court long enough to hear the reading of his first-degree murder charge — laid in connection with the death of Const. Garrett Styles, a married father of two young children.

After the charges were read, the boy was excused from court and wheeled outside and onto the ramp of a waiting, wheelchair-accessible van.

Because of his condition, he will not have to attend the remainder of the preliminary hearing.

It was in the early-morning hours of June 28, 2011 that the 32-year-old Styles stopped a van that had been speeding along Hwy. 48, just east of Newmarket, allegedly being driven by the teen.

When Styles approached the stopped van and began speaking with the driver, the van suddenly accelerated forward, dragging the officer along with it.

The van sped off the road and into a field before tipping over and pinning Styles underneath.

It has been reported that Crown attorney Rob Scott will be asking for an adult sentence in the case.

The teen’s lawyer, David Berg, said his client now suffers from permanent paralysis in all of his limbs.

“It is a life-altering injury,” Berg said outside court. “He is now a quadriplegic. He has some movement in one arm, nothing in the hands.”

His parents later returned to court and stayed for the remainder of the day, taking seats at the back of the packed courtroom.

For Styles’ father, retired York Regional Police officer Gary Styles, Monday meant having to relive the tragedy all over again.

“It has finally come to the point where we’re going to have to deal with this,” said the patriarch of the Styles family, who was accompanied by Garrett’s mother, two younger brothers and sister.

Garrett Styles’ younger brother, Colin, said the family had been preparing for an emotionally-tough day.

“We’re seeing a lot of this stuff for the first time,” he said, referring to evidence that was presented in court. “I knew it was going to be tough.”

As for the teen’s tired-looking parents, they said little as they exited the building at day’s end.

There is currently a publication ban on the preliminary hearing.

I'd hardly consider this youth suffering, he committed an unconscionable act which eventually left to the death of another individual, a police officer no less. He suffers because of his own stupidity, as does the Styles family.

All because one teen wanted to go for a joy ride. Senseless.

I hope he gets an adult sentence.

[Dave Jenkins]

Although this does not surprise me, it does disgust me! Make the little shit remain in the court room and endure what ever it is he would be subjected to. Cst Styles was not EXCUSED from being pinned under that vehicle. The family, friends and co-workers are not excused for the grief they have, and continue to suffer at the loss of Garrett.

Yep.....by all means excuse the little bastard from having to remain in the court room! Yet another slap to the face of people who have suffered greatly by treating the person that caused that suffering like a victim. Good fucking grief! (pardon my language...)

[TheCanadian]

Although this does not surprise me, it does disgust me! Make the little shit remain in the court room and endure what ever it is he would be subjected to. Cst Styles was not EXCUSED from being pinned under that vehicle. The family, friends and co-workers are not excused for the grief they have, and continue to suffer at the loss of Garrett.

Yep.....by all means excuse the little bastard from having to remain in the court room! Yet another slap to the face of people who have suffered greatly by treating the person that caused that suffering like a victim. Good fucking grief! (pardon my language...)

This +1

[JennyRN]

Although this does not surprise me, it does disgust me! Make the little shit remain in the court room and endure what ever it is he would be subjected to. Cst Styles was not EXCUSED from being pinned under that vehicle. The family, friends and co-workers are not excused for the grief they have, and continue to suffer at the loss of Garrett.

Yep.....by all means excuse the little bastard from having to remain in the court room! Yet another slap to the face of people who have suffered greatly by treating the person that caused that suffering like a victim. Good fucking grief! (pardon my language...)

+2 not to mention how PC Styles suffered for a period of time pinned under that vehicle....

[Bald Man]

Although this does not surprise me, it does disgust me! Make the little shit remain in the court room and endure what ever it is he would be subjected to. Cst Styles was not EXCUSED from being pinned under that vehicle. The family, friends and co-workers are not excused for the grief they have, and continue to suffer at the loss of Garrett.

Yep.....by all means excuse the little bastard from having to remain in the court room! Yet another slap to the face of people who have suffered greatly

by treating the person that caused that suffering like a victim

. Good fucking grief! (pardon my language...)

This is very much the norm in Canada. This is what all the bleeding heart liberals want.

[Punisher-One]

As for the teen’s tired-looking parents

Boo hoo let me cry them a river.
Forget them. Maybe if they had done their job and parented this little shit then he wouldn't have killed a cop.

[klink1983]

From what I remember, this wasn't the first time that this little puke.....umm.... that the accused had taken his parents vehicle without consent. So with this, the parents I believe at one point maintained that they had no idea that him taking the van had happened or that he would do it.....

I'm not a parent, but to me common sense says that if I had a kid doing that.....I would have my car keys in my room with me at night.....

<----- D'OH!!!!!

[Dudley DoRight]

Darwin always gives better penalties than the Cdn legal system.

[johnq]

This article seems to be about the kid's injuries and all the suffering he's going through, not about the crime he committed or his court appearance. IMHO, the fact that he is a quadrapeligic is irrelevant to the case. Is the reader supposed to infer that the accused has "suffered enough"? Sickening.

[MakingTheClimb]

“It is a life-altering injury,” Berg said outside court. “He is now a quadriplegic. He has some movement in one arm, nothing in the hands.”

Empathy? Sure I am empathetic that he is going to have to live ike this but does it change the accountability heck no he made his own bed and now he has to lie in it; he still has more movement in his body then Garrett does

[devilwoman]

if I had a kid doing that.....I would have my car keys in my room with me at night.....

If my parents had a child doing that, well, said child would be locked in their room until infinity.