Lethbridge Boy, 12, Sentenced to Three Years of Intensive Rehabilitation for Stabbing Younger Brother
A 12-year-old Lethbridge boy who pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his younger brother has been sentenced to three years of intensive rehabilitation under a court order signed on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision order includes two years of secure custody followed by one year of supervised custody, according to proceedings at the Lethbridge courthouse.
Violent August 2025 Incident
The case stems from a disturbing incident that occurred on August 27, 2025, when the boys were home alone while their father was at the store. According to an agreed statement of facts read in court on December 10, 2025, the 12-year-old "became enraged" with his seven-year-old brother and "had an urge" to harm him.
The younger brother, aware of his sibling's anger, ran to a bedroom and hid under a blanket on a bed. The 12-year-old went to the kitchen, retrieved a knife, and followed his brother into the bedroom. While the seven-year-old remained concealed under the blanket, the older boy "blindly stabbed" his younger brother approximately nine times as the victim cried out in pain.
Severe Injuries and Medical Response
The attack resulted in devastating injuries to the seven-year-old, who suffered stab wounds to his face, hand, arm, and back. Additional injuries included a head puncture, a severed tendon in his hand, two fractures, and multiple scratch marks.
Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to Lethbridge's Chinook Regional Hospital, where he was immediately taken to a trauma room. The attending physician suspected three major injuries: an aortic injury, brain bleed, and blood in the chest cavity. Due to the severity of his condition, the boy was airlifted to a children's hospital in Edmonton for specialized care.
Aftermath and Investigation
Following the attack, the 12-year-old exited the house and waited outside for his father to return. When his father arrived home, the boy informed him that his brother was "dead inside the house."
During subsequent police interviews, the 12-year-old revealed that he "had an urge that he could not control related to voices he hears from time to time." Investigators also discovered that the boy had been researching murder on YouTube prior to the violent assault on his sibling.
The case highlights complex issues surrounding juvenile justice, mental health intervention, and family violence. The three-year rehabilitation sentence represents a judicial attempt to address the underlying factors that contributed to this tragic family incident while balancing accountability with therapeutic intervention for the young offender.
