An 18-year-old man who was involved in an assault where a 13-year-old was killed has been granted bail.
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Destynd Jackson was with four underage teens when a fight broke out between his group and a 32-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man on Feb. 5 at MacEwan LRT Station.
One of the teens, 13-year-old Eric Omeasoo, was fatally stabbed in the altercation.
Jackson, a 15-year-old girl, a 14-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act were all charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and possession of an offensive weapon dangerous to the public.
Police have not said if anyone has been charged in Omeasoo’s death.
During the bail hearing on Friday, Jackson’s lawyer claimed a photo was taken of his client at a previous hearing. The judge warned the gallery that’s a crime.
While on bail, Jackson will have to abide by a curfew and cannot possess weapons, alcohol or other non-prescribed substances.
He is not allowed to ride Edmonton Transit unless he is with his mother or another approved individual.
His next appearance is March 21.
After the decision was read, a member of Omeasoo’s family got up and began to yell in the courtroom.
The judge asked them to leave and warned the gallery that outbursts would not be tolerated.
Outside the courtroom, a yelling match ensued between the victim’s family and the family of the accused before both sides dispersed.
Omeasoo’s grandmother spoke to CTV News Edmonton after the hearing.
She says she still needs answers about her grandson’s death.
“We have a dead child here, and nobody, nobody cares about it,” Rhonda Spence said.
“Our family is devastated, devastated and crushed that we have no answers.”
She describes her grandson as a smart kid who brought joy to his family and classmates.
“He was raised with culture and ceremony and respect and kindness and love. He was raised in a home with all those things, with people in a tight-knit family that loved him and cared for him.”
“When we had (the) to service him, hundreds of people showed up to say the same thing, how bright this kid was, how he brought so much love and joy to people.”
She says she’ll continue to attend the court proceedings in hopes of getting some answers.
With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson
