The first youth convicted of murder under the Youth Criminal Justice Act is off to Millhaven Penitentiary to continue serving his life sentence in an adult facility.
However, Justin Morton is eligible to apply for day parole in the coming months.
Morton, now 20, appeared in a Brampton courthouse Thursday morning. He had been serving his sentence in a youth facility but agreed to a plan to have him transferred to adult prison.
Debbie and George Levack -- parents of Eric Levack, the 14-year-old that Morton killed on April 1, 2003 -- also appeared at the courthouse.
"I'm feeling great," Debbie told reporters afterwards. "They're putting him in a car and taking him to Millhaven -- for now. Then they'll put him in medium security."
However, she added this: "I think he should have been put in adult prison two years ago, when he was 18."
Millhaven is a maximum-security federal prison just west of Kingston. After review by Correctional Service of Canada officials, Morton will be transferred to a medium-security prison somewhere in Canada.
Morton's story is a very disturbing one.
He strangled Levack in a wooded area after convincing his victim to take part in a trust game that involved Edward allowing Morton to tighten a belt around his neck.
On Jan. 7, 2004, Morton pleaded guilty, with the court ordering pre-sentence reports.
At his April 2004 sentencing hearing, court heard about a person who fantasized about tortured and killing, including thoughts of mass murder in a school gymnasium.
Morton's sentencing judge treated him as an adult, which allows him to be named in public.
Before court, George Levack said of Morton: "I don't think the community is ready to have him back on the streets."
Debbie added: "If he can kill at 14, he can kill at 20 -- and he can kill at 40. What's to say he's not going to do it again?"
The Levacks plan to be there if and when Morton applies for parole. He can apply for full parole in two years.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin
