Seven
Years for Fatal Beating
An Edmonton teenager convicted of manslaughter in a cruel schoolyard
beating was handed a seven-and-half-year prison sentence.
Dallas Lucien Morin, 16, pleaded guilty for his part in the
beating of 14-year-old Garett Lawrence Dumont. The victim was
beaten so badly that police had to use fingerprints to identify
him. He died in hospital from head injuries several days after
the beating. The trial of another teenager charged with second-degree
murder in Dumont's death is scheduled to begin later this year.
(Source: CTVNEWS.com)
How
Is My Driving?
The “I Promise” Program, designed by an Ontario
social worker, is aimed to improve teen driving.
When families join the program they are given a sticker with
a phone number on it that is displayed on the car so other motorists
can call to report any unsafe driving. A letter documenting
the call comes in the mail. The program does not affect official
driving records but could potentially save millions of dollars
in insurance claims.
Each year over 8,000 youth die as a result of car crashes in
North America and over 400,000 sustain physical injuries.
(Source: CTVNEWS.com)
Teen Guilty in Train Wreck
A
Nova Scotia teenager has pleaded guilty to causing a Via Rail
derailment last spring. The 14-car train jumped the tracks,
injuring 23 passengers and all but destroying many of its railcars.
Lawyers asked the judge to allow the boy, 14 at the time, to
participate in a restorative justice process. If the judge agrees,
people directly affected by the wreck will be allowed to decide
what punishment the boy receives. Possible restitution could
include community service, or a term of incarceration.
(Source: CTVNEWS.com)
Bribe
Scandal Rocks Oxford University
Rev John Platt and Mary-Jane Hilton have resigned from the elite
British university in the wake of bribing allegations.
A reporter posing as a wealthy banker offered cash to secure
a place on a law-degree course for his son. Apparently, Platt
agreed to create an extra place in return for a donation of
£300,000 (approx. $675,000). Platt and Hilton said they
acted without authority from Oxford.
(Source: South African Press Association)
Kazakhstan
Teens Kill for Music
Three troubled boys are accused of axing and knifing to death
a security guard, a nurse, two assistant instructors and two
16-year-old orphans.
The boys told police they only wanted to scare their orphanage
wardens in retaliation for not being allowed to listen to music.
The attack prompted widespread debate over the state of Kazakhstan's
underfunded, marginalized orphanage system. Several of the children
living in the dilapidated facility had psychological problems,
officials said. Many Kazakh orphanages, however, lack qualified
medical personnel to deal with such problems.
(Source: Associated Press)
Massachusetts
Teen Raises $30,000
Jill
Springer, 16, said, “I thought I could do more…so
I did.”
At the age of 7, Jill began canvassing her Freetown neighbourhood,
with her parents, in support of The American Cancer Society.
Over the years she has proven herself as a fund-raising extraordinaire
for the very-deserving organization.
For the past few years Jill has been active on their clean-up
committee as well as becoming chairperson of the first-ever
youth recruitment committee. "When I've helped somebody
and I see a smile on their face... it touches my heart,"
she says.
(Source: South Coast Today)
