The 14-year-old girl accused in a violent assault at a Saskatoon high school remains in custody and now faces an additional charge.
During a brief appearance Wednesday morning in Saskatoon provincial court, the Crown added a charge of assault causing bodily harm. The teen was previously charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and arson after a 15-year-old girl was set on fire at Evan Hardy Collegiate on Sept. 5.
The next scheduled court date for the accused is Sept. 26.
The identities of both the accused and the victim are banned from publication under statutory provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The 14-year-old is accused of pouring liquid on the 15-year-old and lighting her on fire.
A witness to the incident said liquid from a black canister was poured onto the girl’s head, which was then lit. The witness said multiple teachers came out of a classroom to save her, using clothing to snuff out the flames.
A witness said she didn’t see what started the fire but flames had spread from the victim’s hair and face to her shoulders, back and stomach within seconds.
The witness said she screamed for help and the victim screamed too, frantically patting down her hair, then the flames spread to her hands.
The girl was taken to a Saskatoon hospital in serious condition with burns after the attack. A teacher who was hurt trying to put out the fire was also sent to hospital with serious injuries.
The girl was later transferred to an Edmonton hospital. Relatives have said she has a long road ahead.
The teacher was released from hospital a few days after the incident, and was resting and recovering, the school division said last week.
Saskatoon Public Schools has said counselling supports were offered to teachers and students at the school, which was closed for regular classes for several days until returning to a regular schedule the next week.
A city police school resource officer who happened to be at the school took the accused girl into custody within moments of the incident. Police have said the officer was at the school on an unrelated call that day.
A GoFundMe campaign in support of the victim had raised around $72,000 by Wednesday.
In another recent show of support, Nestor’s Bakery on 20th Street West announced Tuesday that it will be selling purple long johns individually, by the dozen or in large quantities as a fundraiser this week and next week; all proceeds go to the fundraiser.
A separate GoFundMe for the injured teacher has generated just under $30,000.
— With files from Bre McAdam, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, and Canadian Press
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