A youth from Lennox and Addington County in eastern Ontario faces multiple charges, including indignity to a dead body, following a medical emergency at a school. The identity of the accused, including name, age, and gender, has not been released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Details of the Incident
On March 9, Ontario Provincial Police officers from the Lennox and Addington County Detachment responded to a local school for a medical emergency. One youth was transported to hospital and later died. A second youth now faces charges of criminal harassment, indignity to a dead body, and two counts of indecent communication.
Legal Context
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, a young person is defined as aged 12 to under 18. The identities of all individuals involved are protected under this act. The OPP stated that no further information will be released out of respect for the family's privacy.
Section 182 of the Canadian Criminal Code makes it an offence to offer an indignity to a dead human body, punishable by up to five years in prison. This includes neglecting a legal duty regarding burial or improperly interfering with a dead body, whether buried or not.
Investigation Ongoing
The OPP have worked cooperatively with school officials throughout the process. The investigation is being led by the OPP Lennox and Addington County crime unit, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner. The name of the school and other identifying details have not been disclosed. Lennox and Addington County stretches from north of Denbigh to Amherst Island in the south, including the towns of Bath, Napanee, Tamworth, and Kaladar.
