The only youth accused of murder in the Boxing Day 2005 slaying of 15-year-old Jane Creba has had his charge reduced to manslaughter.
Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer ruled Wednesday the accused's charge of second-degree murder will be tossed and the teen be committed to stand trial for manslaughter, the Toronto Star reports.
The accused, who was 17 at the time of the Yonge Street gang shootout, still faces six charges of attempted murder. He cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The reasons of the judge's ruling also cannot be reported by the media.
The accused exploded in anger last August when provincial court Justice Bruce Young committed him to stand trial for second-degree murder, the Star reported.
The teen's lawyer, Gary Grill, told the newspaper on Wednesday his client was happy with the new ruling. The accused has been in custody since he was charged in June 2006 in the death of Creba, a popular Riverdale Collegiate Institute student.
According to previous police reports and court documents, the accused and Andre Thompson were arrested at the Castle Frank subway station shortly after the death of Creba, the Star reported. The pair were charged with firearms offences.
Meanwhile, the seven adults charged with murder or manslaughter in Creba's death are scheduled to attend a hearing on March 7 to learn if they will stand trial.
Tyshaun Barnett, Jeremiah Valentine and Louis Woodcock are charged with second-degree murder and several counts of attempted murder.
Andrew Smith, Andre Thompson, Shaun Thompson and Vincent Davis are charged with manslaughter.
Six other people were struck by bullets in the wild Dec. 26, 2005 shootout outside the Foot Locker store.
