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Youth charged with second degree murder

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with second degree murder in the death of Brandie Vittrekwa. The teen appeared in court Wednesday afternoon.

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with second degree murder in the death of Brandie Vittrekwa.

The teen appeared in court Wednesday afternoon.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits the publication of his name, because he is a minor.

He is next scheduled to be in court May 7 for a possible bail hearing.

Kwanlin Dun First Nation Chief Doris Bill said the community is feeling relieved that a charge has been laid in this case.

“It’s been a difficult time for a lot of people, especially her family.”

Vittrekwa’s body was discovered on Dec. 8 on a walking trail in the McIntyre subdivision of the Kwanlin Dun community in Whitehorse.

Bill said she has been thinking about Vittrekwa’s family and spoke to her mother about a week ago.

“She’s missing her - it’s just a difficult time. When you look at the two individuals, these are young people.”

Vittrekwa had attended Porter Creek Secondary School. She was born in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., and spent some time growing up in Old Crow before coming to Whitehorse.

Hundreds of Yukoners attended a memorial service.

The maximum sentence for second-degree murder is seven years for a minor - four years in custody and three years in some form of community supervision.

In Canada, youth cases cannot be heard in adult court, but the Crown could apply after-the-fact to seek an adult sentence for serious crimes.