A 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault that left a 15-year-old male in care for life after a May 26 stabbing.
Ezekial Ezekial Okumu entered the plea Oct. 16 before Judge Reginald Harris, who ordered pre-sentencing reports for the next phase of proceedings.
Crown prosecutor Adrienne Lee said the victim was stabbed a single time in the torso. She said he suffered catastrophic injuries.
“He will never leave long-term care,” she said. “He will forever need care.”
The victim, whose name is protected under a publication ban, will only be able to communicate through gestures for the rest of his life, she said.
Okumu’s first appearance on the charge was June 7 and he was arraigned Oct. 16.
“I plead guilty,” Okumu told Harris.
The Crown is seeking five to seven years in prison while defence lawyer Trevor Martin said he would be seeking a sentence of three to three and a half years.
“This is not a random, unexplainable attack,” Martin said without going into detail.
Okumu agreed to his youth record becoming part of the adult proceeding. Lee said he has a record of violent behaviour.
As the Crown asked for a pre-sentencing report with a psychological component, Harris asked Martin if Okumu’s autism was going to be factored into sentencing submissions.
“No, I don’t think so,” Martin said.
The defence opposed the psychological component.
The case returns to court on Oct. 24 to confirm a sentencing date.
