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WARNING

Joshua Hunt, 16, was stabbed to death October 14th, 2006.

A 17-year-old male was charged with one count of second-degree murder and two counts of assault with a weapon.

A second 17-year-old male was charged with one count of possession of a weapon, one count of assault with a weapon, and two counts of breach of probation in a matter unrelated to Hunt's death.

An unknown trouble call brought officers to a home at 2839 44 Avenue in the Mill Woods community at about 3:00 a.m. on the foggy morning of October 14th, 2006.

There they found an unconscious teen suffering from multiple stabs wounds. He was taken to the University of Alberta Hospital where he later died.

The incident apparently took place during a house party. At first it was not known if the teen, who appeared to be between 15 and 17 years old, was a resident of the home.

Police took two teens into investigative custody.

Media reports were the first to identify the teen as 16-year-old Joshua Hunt. He was Edmonton's 28th homicide victim of 2006.

On October 15th, 2006 police charged a 17-year-old with one count of second degree murder and two counts of assault with a weapon. The teen was accused of threatening at least two other people with a knife while at the party.

Another 17-year-old was charged with one count of possession of a weapon, one count of assault with a weapon, and two counts of breach of probation in a matter unrelated to Hunt's death.

The youths cannot be named under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The teens appeared in court on October 16th. The youth facing the second-degree murder charge was advised by Youth Court Judge Geoff Ho that he could be tried in an adult court and if found guilty could be sentenced as an adult.

He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on October 27th, 2006. The other teen did not appear in court and was released. His next court date was not known.

An autopsy carried out on October 16th indicated Hunt died from a single stab wound.

Ongoing Developments

October 14th, 2006 - witness statements and the arrests.
October 15th, 2006 - Edmonton Sun interviews Gary Hunt.
October 15th, 2006 - Gary Hunt's letter to Chief Boyd.
October 17th, 2006 - retaliation fears arise.
Joshua Hunt remembered
October 20th, 2006 - Joshua Hunt's funeral.
October 27th, 2006 - bail hearing put over; Gary Hunt publishes revealing petition.
November 3rd, 2006 - suspect makes brief court appearance.
November 9th, 2006 - Gary Hunt launches civil suit.
November 10th, 2006 - bail decision held over.
November 16th, 2006 - rare Section 31 release granted; father hires private detective.
November 19th, 2006 - family of Shane Rolston also launches petition.
November 24th, 2006 - newspaper reports one charged teen is wanted for recent school assault.
January 27th, 2007 - Gary Hunt reports Section 31 release conditions were violated.
February 11th, 2007 - A Calgary group lobbies for capital punishment.
February 19th, 2007 - Bail conditions to be revisited.
February 21st, 2007 - Preliminary hearing dates set.
February 22nd, 2007 - Judge clarifies bail release conditions.
March 4th, 2007 - Petition drive update.
March 10th, 2007 - Hundreds gather calling for change to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
May 5th, 2007 - Citizens' rights group forms.
May 7th, 2007 - Gary Hunt turns over videotape showing second breach of bail conditions.
December 27th, 2007 - two charges of breach of bail conditions levelled against young offender.
February 7th, 2008 - breach of bail charges dropped.

Robert Hammel, who lived next to the home where the stabbing took place, told the media in several interviews he heard glass breaking at about 2:50 a.m. on October 14th.

“I hear them often, throwing rocks, drinking, and lobbing Molotov cocktails,” said Hammel, adding they sometimes congregate on a nearby pedestrian path.

Just prior to police arriving Hammel heard a commotion on the street involving several young people.

"It woke me up. There was a lot of yelling and screaming," he said.

Hammel said the situation quieted down after someome yelled "Call the police! Call the police!"

Soon the yelling started again outside the house. Hammell said he saw at least two teenagers throwing rocks.

Numerous holes were visible in the windows of the house police were investigating.

Other neighbours who heard the commotion couldn't make out what the youths were shouting but they were struck by the level of animosity in the teens' voices.

Hammel described what he saw after emergency services arrived.

"They hauled out someone on a stretcher and his chest was full of blood. There was no movement so I thought he might be dead."

Hammel said he also peeked into the ambulance and saw the stabbing victim laying prone with his chest covered in blood.

“He looked dead already,” he said.

Hammel said he saw police take into custody a teenaged boy whom he recognised as the older of his neighbour's two sons.

CTV Edmonton reported a second teen, along with his mother, was taken by police to headquarters.

The station's camera crew caught the teen being taken into custody near 52nd Street and 19th Avenue. They also caught the ire of the young man's mother.

"That's my 17-year-old son in there alright. So you know what I don't give a damn ... news."

An edit in the audio portion of the report suggests the news crew likely told the woman they were simply doing their job.

"Well, I'm doing mine alright. I'm protecting my family," the woman responded.

Several neighbours said the victim was an area teen known to have caused problems in the cul-de-sac in the past. They said he did not live in the home.

Residents of the Larkspur neighbourhood said it's not uncommon for teens to roam the streets late at night while drinking and partying.

A police forensic team spent most of October 14th processing evidence at the scene.

Investigators figure it was a party gone bad. A spokesman said they were interviewing numerous witnesses, including several from inside the home, trying to determine a motive for the stabbing.

Neighbour Tanis Smith, in an interview with Global Edmonton, said she was surprised when she came home at 6:00 a.m. to find police tape surrounding her house.

"Obviously the standard answer [is] you never expect anything like this to happen in your neighbourhood but ... to someone you know?"

"They're good people. We've been friends with them for thirteen years."

Smith later told the Edmonton Journal, "I've known them forever. I used to babysit the kids. They are a good family."

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On October 15th, the Edmonton Sun carried an interview with Gary Hunt, Joshua's father. He described the events that led to his son's death.

Gary Hunt, holding photograph, his father Bob Hunt, left, his brother-in-law Paul Pucci and his uncle Richard Velie, right.

A witness, who was with Joshua moments before he was slain, and his mother immediately went to the Hunts' home to tell them Joshua had been stabbed.

Gary said Joshua was drinking beer with about six other friends at the home on 44th Avenue. A young man, the older brother of the host, came in and tried to break up the party.

"He came home stoned and started flashing a knife around. He chased out all the kids except Josh, and my boy was stabbed in the heart and bled to death," he told the Sun.

The witness told Gary the host's older brother chased the partygoers outside with a kitchen knife. The man cornered Joshua and didn't let him leave.

"Josh had been there before. He never had problems with [his friend's older brother]," Gary said.

When the teens realised their friend was trapped in the home the witness said he smashed some windows with rocks in an effort to distract the attacker and offer Joshua a chance to escape.

"But it didn't work," Gary said.

Police said the slaying wasn't gang-related but the boy's father said drugs likely played a part.

Gary Hunt told the Sun Joshua recently fell in with "not such a good group of kids."

He also said Joshua was beaten up by a group of attackers over the summer and was escorted home by police.

"It looks like my son was set up," Gary said of his son's murder.

The story the witness told Gary Hunt was backed up by interviews conducted by the Edmonton Journal.

One neighbour told the paper he saw three young people kicking and smashing an old truck parked in the driveway.

"They were screaming at the inhabitants of the house. They said to tell [the youth] to come outside and bring his knife with him," said the man who was not identified by the Journal.

The paper also reported the house where the stabbing occurred belonged to David and Colleen Jens.

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In a twist to the story of Joshua Hunt's death, the Edmonton Sun reported on October 15th that the Edmonton police Internal Affairs unit had become involved in the case.

A formal complaint filed just days before the teen's death indicated police might have known Joshua's life was in danger for several months.

The Sun reported Hunt spent the last four months of his life in fear and had recently sought sanctuary in a neighbour's home, believing he was being chased by a group of men threatening to kill him.

“He was afraid for his life. He said a group of guys was after him and were serious, they were going to kill him,” said a neighbour who said Joshua once ran into a nearby home for help.

Gary Hunt believed the slaying of his son had ties to four individuals who assaulted him in a parking lot on May 14th, 2006.

At the time, police told the father they knew who Josh's assailants were.

On October 10th, 2006 Gary Hunt sent a letter to police Chief Mike Boyd asking why no one was charged in the assault.

Hunt wrote he was “confident these boys will strike another victim again because they were not brought to justice and ... have tried other things against my son.”

“If they'd been charged, my boy might be alive,” Gary told the Sun.

Hunt said his son called him several times in recent months asking for help and saying he was being followed, chased and threatened by the same persons who assaulted him earlier.

“He asked me to drive him places. He was scared of walking anywhere."

Police refused to comment on the complaint saying only, “An IA investigation is the first step in determining what, if any, reasons there were for charges being laid or not in any assault case.”

Homicide detectives said they were aware of the letter but haven't found a link between Hunt's death and the earlier assault.

According to Gary Hunt detectives said his son may have “passed out” and woke to find the killer threatening one of his friends with a knife.

“Josh tried to push him off [his friend] to save him. And he did, but then he was stabbed in the heart,” Gary Hunt told the Sun.

Friends of Joshua at McNally Composite High School where he once attended related their own account of the teen's fears.

Speaking to the Sun one friend said, "He came to my work a few months ago terrified. The same guys were after him."

"I don't know if those guys would actually have someone kill Josh for them, but we all know who they are and they're not nice people," said another.

Global Edmonton reported Joshua was advised by friends not to go to the party where he died.

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"None of us wants another dead body," said Gary Hunt in an interview with the Sun. "We're concerned about revenge if (the accused) posts bail."

His remarks came in the wake of reports that internet messages of retaliation were being posted on teen web sites and blogs.

One of Josh's friends, contacted outside McNally school, offered his prediction.

"I guarantee if [he] gets bail there's going to be people looking for revenge."

Understandably, Edmonton police warned against vigilantism in relation to Josh's death.

"We understand strong feelings may be percolating in the community but we'll respond to any type of criminal activity," Supt. Norm Lipinski said. "Personal justice will not help this case."

University of Alberta law expert Sanjeev Anand said having bail denied based on fears of the safety of the accused is unlikely.

"If bail could lead to killing of the accused in a notorious case, it could be denied. But normally, if safety can't be guaranteed it's a failure of the state authorities, not the courts."

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Joshua Hunt was remembered as a typical Canadian kid struggling through his teen years.

His love of hockey was evidenced by a bedroom shrine he built to honour the Edmonton Oilers and his hero, Wayne Gretzky.

Hunt hoped to coach a children's hockey program when he grew up.

The 16-year-old enjoyed woodworking class at school and thought about making a career of it. He also enjoyed time spent hanging out with friends and having fun.

Joshua Hunt attended McNally Composite High School until the middle of September 2006.

His former principal said the teen lacked motivation and withdrew just as he started Grade 11.

"He attended a few classes but his motivation to attend classes just wasn't there," McNally principal George Rice said.

Global Television reported he was expelled but the station later retracted the statement.

Rice remembered Hunt as “pleasant” and with a “sparkle in his eye,” and said he planned to take courses at the Learning Store -- an outreach program -- before enrolling again at McNally next January.

The Edmonton Journal quoted a source associated with the Maple Leaf Athletic Club who said Hunt was bullied by some of his teammates when he played Bantam AA in 2003-04 in north Edmonton.

"Some of the players who thought they were better players than [him] would tell him that, and that's just despicable," the man told the paper.

"It went over the line, so we told them that they didn't deserve to be in our program, and we suspended them for life from our club."

A total of four players were suspended, the source said.

Joshua Hunt was coached by well-known Edmonton police high-risk offender unit detective Wil Tonowksi on a Mill Woods hockey team for several years when the boy was younger.

"It's like a punch in the stomach, it really is," said the portly detective.

"It's a horrible thing when you know somebody who was a good kid and that played hockey with your kids for so many years and you know the family. It just knocks the wind out of you when you hear something like that," Tonowski told the Journal.

The detective added the boy's father helped with the hockey team, and his mother always showed up to cheer her son on.

"They never missed a game. They never missed a practice. They were there for their kid and supported him."

Tonowski said the teenager's parents had split up since he coached the youth who he described as "quiet" and "shy."

He said Hunt was certainly not involved in alcohol or drugs while he was on the team.

The funeral for Joshua Hunt took place October 20th, 2006 at the Mill Woods Pentecostal Assembly, 2225 66 Street.

As Gary Hunt remembered his son, he also pleaded for the violence among teens to end – a sentiment echoed by Pastor Randy Tonn.

Speaking to several hundred people gathered at the church Hunt said, “A lot of people come up and say he's in a better place.”

“No, he's not. He should be here with his family – he's in the second-best place.”

Hunt described his son and the fears he had raising the well-liked teen.

"Please don't get me wrong – he had his trials and tribulations, too. He was a typical teenager. He wasn't perfect, but none of us are perfect."

"Yes, Josh and I butted heads, but I would always explain to him afterwards why I didn't want him to do something, and the fears I had of him being hurt or killed."

Hunt said the justice system “is failing every day,” reflecting that punishments often don't fit crimes. He also said there was too much violence amongst teens.

“They can't even be teenagers. When I was a teenager, you saw the odd fight, but you didn't see knives or guns.”

"I want to be able to help you teenagers understand that packing a knife or a gun, and going to these house parties where you may or may not know someone, is a very deadly and dangerous thing."

"And it's not just the teenagers either. It's up to us parents, too. There is no way that any children under the age of 18 should be drinking in anybody's home, unsupervised or supervised."

"This violence has to stop, and it is us who can make a difference. Or do we, in two or three days time, just go back to our lives? Does Josh just become only a memory like the rest of the victims?" Hunt asked the gathered.

Pastor Randy Tonn cautioned the teenagers attending Joshua's funeral not to seek revenge.

"It is very easy to be angry. It is very easy to be bitter over what happened, and I want to encourage you this afternoon not to be angry, that you wouldn't seek revenge because that will only make things worse."

"You really need to stop the violence. You must act like people of faith, and we must ask God to help us find forgiveness in our hearts."

Joshua Hunt was remembered in pictures on a large screen shown to the gathered.

One of the songs chosen to play during the video tribute was by Tupac Shakur, himself a victim of violence.

In "Dear Mama" Shakur sang

If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day
Everything will be alright if ya hold on
It's a struggle everyday
Gotta roll on

Joshua's metal casket was blue – his favourite colour.

On October 27th, 2006 the 17-year-old charged with second-degree murder had his bail hearing put over.

Lawyers acting on his behalf asked a judge for more time to review disclosure evidence from the Crown.

The judge agreed to the request and put the bail hearing over until November 3rd, 2006.

The 17-year-old's court appearance came a day after Gary Hunt announced he had started a petition to repeal the Youth Criminal Justice Act and to deny the 17-year-old accused being granted bail.

"When we were teens, we did the crime, we did the time," Hunt told the Edmonton Sun.

Hunt's petition calls for people to support a change the Youth Criminal Justice Act by removing it all together; to support not to have [name withheld] post bail; and that [name withheld] be sentenced as an adult due to the seriousness of the crime.

"You do the crime, you do the time, no matter if you are a young offender or adult," reads the petition.

"I truly believe at age 17 you know what you're doing. You pick up a knife or a gun or any weapon and you go to someone – you have full intentions," Hunt told Global Edmonton.

"You can hear it out on the streets. They know they can get away with ... basically murder."

The contents of the petition also includes information about the case that cannot be published under provisions of the current Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The document reveals the name of the person Gary Hunt feels is responsible for his son's death, a description of the knife thought to be used and additional details of the wound Joshua received.

Also included is the nature of the relationship between the 17-year-old charged with Joshua's murder and the May 14th, 2006 attack Hunt wrote of to Mayor Steven Mandel [sic], Premier Ralph Klein and police chief Mike Boyd.

Those interested in receiving a copy of the petition can e-mail Gary Hunt at gary.global@shaw.ca, or download a copy directly from http://rip.joshhunt.googlepages.com.

A copy of the petition has been removed from this web site as it contravened provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Petitions have been circulated in other recent high-profile Edmonton murder cases.

In the fall of 2005 citizens signed a petition to have the bail of Michael White revoked. White was accused of killing his wife Liana and dumping her body in a ditch in July 2005.

In the spring of 2006 several petitions were launched to have bail revoked for four teens charged with the murder of Stefan Conley.

Conley was swarmed on an Edmonton Transit bus on March 2nd, 2006. Details of the petition can be seen here, here and here.

Gary Hunt showed Global Edmonton pictures of his son taken hours before he died.

Hunt also showed a fresh tattoo on his right forearm, spelling out his Josh's nickname, that will serve as a constant reminder to him of his son.

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On November 3rd, 2006 the 17-year-old charged with second-degree murder made a brief court appearance.

The youth's case was adjourned until November 8th when a plea was scheduled to be entered.

No other details, such as an application for bail, were made available.

Attending the proceedings was the Hunt family.

Standing outside court, the family was making known their petition to have the Youth Criminal Justice Act repealed.

Those interested in receiving a copy of the petition can e-mail Gary Hunt at gary.global@shaw.ca, or download a copy directly from http://rip.joshhunt.googlepages.com.

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On November 9th, 2006 Gary Hunt announced he had launched a claim in civil court suing his son's alleged killer and family for wrongful death.

$100 million in damages was being sought.

"You can't put a price on a life. This will send a message that teen violence is intolerable. These people were [allegedly] responsible for my son's death," Gary Hunt told the Edmonton Sun.

The civil claim names the accused killer and his parents as defendants. The suit does not form part of a criminal trial.

The claim states the defendants were responsible for providing a safe environment for Josh Hunt and other minors as they attended a party at their residence. The claim also states the defendants knew Josh and others were drinking.

"While at their home [Josh Hunt] was assaulted, battered, threatened and unlawfully confined [by the youth accused of murder]," the statement reads. "[The accused killer] forcefully penetrated [Josh's] heart and lung with a knife obtained from [his parent's] home."

Gary Hunt said any damages awarded in the suit would go towards educational initiatives to curb teen violence.

Hunt said his effort to have the Youth Criminal Justice Act rewritten is gaining momentum. He claims to have received over 20,000 signatures so far on a petition posted at http://rip.joshhunt.googlepages.com.

Statements of claim have not been proven in court. The family of the accused could not be reached for comment by the Sun.

CTV Edmonton cameras caught up with Gary Hunt at a Kingsway Garden Mall tattoo parlour.

Hunt was having a second tattoo applied as a tribute to his son's memory and spoke of the civil suit.

"People have to understand that when they have people in their home that there is a law that you are responsible for those people."

"Especially if you got young teenagers drinking in a home underage – it's all ingredients for these types of violent crimes."

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On November 10th, 2006 a packed courtroom filled with supporters for both sides heard the teenager accused with the killing of Joshua Hunt may have been acting in self-defense.

The statement came from Peter Royal, the lawyer for the accused, at the teen's bail hearing.

Royal suggested Hunt provoked the attack.

The court was told Hunt and his friends were drunk, were seen brandishing knives and that one of them supposedly attacked the accused killer.

Royal quoted a 911 call made by his 17-year-old client.

"They were holding a knife to me ... I'm going to kill those motherfuckers."

However, the Crown suggested the altercation was over when Josh Hunt was trying to retrieve his shoes and leave when he was stabbed in the chest.

Emotions ran high in the court with Hunt family members shouting out at one point to the family of accused, saying they could have more to prevent what happened.

The judge set aside his bail decision until November 16th, 2006.

Outside court, Josh's father Gary Hunt spoke to the cameras.

"It was hard to hear what happened to my son – how the knife was plunged into him with a huge force."

About the statements made by the defense Gary Hunt said, "I expected that the defense council's going to try and come with everything that he can."

"I believe that at the end of the day they will see Josh was too drunk to be of any threat to anybody.

Speaking to the perception his son's reputation was been tarnished by recent events, Gary offered:

"Anybody that knows Josh knows that Josh was a kid that had a really big heart, that liked being around anyone and everyone, never judged anyone and he certainly didn't deserve this whatsoever."

"No one deserves to die. That's a fact, that's for sure."

Hunt sounded optimistic about the delay in the judge's ruling.

"I really think that the judge is making the right decision on reviewing all the documentation and the evidence before him."

"I really feel that for the safety of Edmonton he's going to make the right decision based on this accused's history."

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A bail appearance held for the 17-year-old accused of second-degree murder on November 16th, 2006 saw a rollercoaster of emotions and the invoking of a rarely-used section of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

In a setting that resembled a shotgun wedding, Josh Hunt's family and supporters filled one side of the packed courtroom while those of the accused filled the other. The day's events produced hghs and lows for both sides.

Court first heard of the accused's background – 13 prior convictions of robbery and possession of weapons charges that indicated an escalating pattern of violence.

Court then heard allegations that Josh Hunt was fatally stabbed as both the accused's mother and brother tried to restrain his attacker in the kitchen of a house party where Hunt was a guest of the accused's younger brother.

When the altercation broke out, the accused's mother was asleep and his father was out of town.

When the accused came home, he got into a fight with one party-goer who pulled out a knife and injured him.

The accused fled the basement and called 911 reporting that someone was trying to kill him. He armed himself with a butcher knife.

The guest with the knife escaped through a window and with others began throwing rocks at the house.

A confrontation followed with a drunken Joshua Hunt suffering a single fatal stab wound. There was no indication he was armed.

The accused was then remanded to the Edmonton Young Offender Centre.

Judge Jack Easton initially denied bail to the youth saying the teen was a threat to public safety due to his lengthy criminal record.

The 17-year-old's defence lawyer, Peter Royal, had asked to have the boy live at home with his parents where the slaying took place but Easton denied the request.

"I'm not convinced at all that [the youth's parents] have the ability to control him," said Easton.

"In this case, I have real concern for the safety of the public. The accused ignored the efforts of his mother, who appears unable to control him at all."

Applause broke out on the Hunt family side of the courtroom when Easton denied the bail. Their approval was short-lived.

Royal then made an application under Section 31 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The section allows a youth whose bail has been denied to be placed in the care of a “responsible person” instead of being detained in custody if certain conditions are met.

Easton ruled in favour of the defence application but attached a string of strict conditions before granting custody of the 17-year-old to the boy's grandfather.

The grandfather, a 67-year-old ex-Edmonton city police officer with twenty-year's experience, lives in southwest Edmonton, across town from the southeast neighbourhood where his parents and the Hunt's family live – and where the murder took place.

Easton made the grandfather "the jailer and absolutely responsible for the good conduct of this young man."

The judge warned the grandfather that if he could not control the boy he was obligated to report him to the authorities.

"It's not going to be a free ride where he just sits in the house and watches TV," said the grandfather.

Crown prosecutor Christian Lim opposed the boy's placement because of a nearly 50-year age gap.

Lim cross-examined the grandfather and seized on testimony from the man that he could not guarantee his grandson's behaviour.

The grandfather suggested if the boy breached a court order by missing a curfew by 15 minutes, he would use his discretion in reporting it or would inform the defence lawyer instead of police.

"I don't think it's quite clear he would follow a court order to report a breach," Lim said.

Easton disagreed, calling the man "a very responsible, very concerned grandfather."

The judge then outlined bail conditions.

The youth, who turns 18 on January 17th, was essentially placed under house arrest and was probhibted from talking to witnesses or the Hunt family, and was to stay away from the Mill Woods area.

He was to find work, was forbidden from drinking, using drugs or carrying a weapon, and was to keep a 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew unless an exception was granted for work.

The accused's release outraged members of Hunt's family. Gary Hunt, Josh's father, spoke to the media outside the courthouse.

"I'm shocked. I think he made the wrong decision. This guy's a high-risk re-offender again. I don't think his grandfather is going to be able to handle him."

"I don't think he can. First of all, he's 67 years of age, an ex-police officer – I understand that, I respect that – but I don't think he can control him."

"His mom and dad couldn't control him. He's got lots of past history. It's an outrage that this guy is going to be out on the streets of Edmonton."

Hunt, an entertainment business owner, then told reporters he added a detective to his company's payroll to monitor the accused's release.

"I have retained a private investigator to follow him so when he does breach he will be going back to jail right away and I believe his grandfather will be in a bit of trouble himself if he doesn't keep control of this boy."

"The goal of having the private investigator is to follow the accused to make sure he abides by his conditions [and] for the safety of the general public."

"He will be following the accused and the minute that he steps outside of those conditions, it will be reported to me and to the Edmonton city police and he will be re-arrested."

"No one's done it before as far as I know and I think that you know what, if we don't have a justice system that's going to help the safety of the people of Edmonton, then we need to step up to the plate."

Outside court, prosecutor Christian Lim explained the Crown's assessment of the day's developments.

"An opportunity for a young person is to apply under Section 31 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act which allows him to be released if an adult is willing and able to control him in the community."

"The Crown always a responsibility and obligation to the public to look after the public safety and public interest."

"So, one, we have to look at, of course, analyse the decision today and make a decision whether or not to review the bail situation."

"And, two, of course we want to continue on with the prosecution."

Media contacted Sanjeev Anand, a University of Alberta law professor, who said allowing youths to be placed under the care of a responsible person is an additional safeguard of their liberty.

"It's often been felt that young people were at a disadvantage when it comes to bail provisions," Anand said.

"Even if the grounds for bail look iffy, and bail is denied to a young person, they can be released to the custody of a responsible person. Essentially they are the young person's jailer."

Anand said Section 31 has similar conditions to bail but is much tougher on the adult responsible, including the possible facing of charges if the youth violates the conditions.

"There's a heavy motivation for the adult caregiver to keep a very close eye on the young person and to report any kind of misbehaviour promptly to police."

Meanwhile, the ordeal continued for the family of the victim.

"My son's not here. I miss Josh deeply. He's not going to be an uncle. He's not going to be a husband. He's not going to be a father," said Gary Hunt.

An unidentified member of the Hunt family also shared her thoughts.

"Such a short life. And it's very unfair. And we're, as a family, we're the ones with a life sentence."

Gary Hunt earlier announced he was suing the accused and his parents for $100 million in damages and had launched an online petition at http://rip.joshhunt.googlepages.com.

The youth's case is back in court November 24th, 2006.

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On November 17th, 2006 the Last Link received an e-mail from Gary Hunt.

The document, which appears to be a newsletter sent to those responding to his online petition, contains Hunt's views on the ability of the accused's grandfather to adhere to the conditions of the Section 31 release.

The e-mail also invites supporters to a candlelight vigil to celebrate what was to be Josh Hunt's 17th birthday. The event is scheduled take place on November 23rd, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. on the main steps of the Alberta Legislature building.

A copy of the e-mail has been removed from this web site as it contravened provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

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On November 19th, 2006 the Edmonton Sun reported the families of Joshua Hunt and Shane Rolston have joined forces in spirit and through the internet calling for changes to the treatment of young offenders, some who fall under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Rolston was beaten to death by five persons armed with pepper spray, a baseball bat, a pool cue, a steel pipe, and a hockey stick on November 19th, 2005.

Gary Hunt says his petition has gathered as many as 30,000 signatures calling for a revamp or removal of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Hunt is calling for a change to existing laws so that young offenders may be dealt with more severely, including the option to be tried and sentenced as adults, and allowing the media to report a young accused's name and to publish their picture.

Hunt is also calling for more accountability in the legal system by having Canadian judges elected to their position.

"I've had e-mails from people all over Canada who have been victimised, whether through rape, murder, robberies or beatings," Hunt told the Sun.

"In most cases, the people convicted of those crimes got house arrest. We want to get together with all those people who have been victimised."

Through a petition at www.shanerolston.ca, the Rolston family is asking for a review to be conducted of the sentences given to four eighteen-year-olds initially charged with first-degree murder.

"We believe the court did not make the punishment fit the crime in this situation. We feel that life is the most precious thing we can possess. It is not appropriate or logical to give such trivial sentences as punishment for taking life in such a brutal way," says the petition.

Sentencing in the Rolston case ranged from a four-year term for manslaughter for one (with parole eligibility within 16 months), and conditional sentences for the other three.

The Rolston family was to announce further details of the petition at a vigil to be held the evening of Sunday, November 19th at the Bev Facey high school in Sherwood Park at 7:00 p.m.

“The more of us working together the better,” Kelly Rolston told the Sun.

“Unfortunately, we have a terrible common bond. I have no idea why we shouldn't be able to work together to bring about positive change.”

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On November 22nd, 2006 just as students at Ross Sheppard High School were holding a memorial honouring Evan Grykuliak, who was stabbed to death at his 17th birthday party, a potentially deadly situation was diffused at a school across town.

J.H. Picard School was locked down when staff and students saw a young man enter the building with a knife.

On November 24th, the Edmonton Sun reported the suspect wanted for the school assault was one of two teens charged in connection with Josh Hunt's death -- full details on the November 2006 Crime Report page.

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On December 6th, 2006 Gary Hunt attended a CBC Radio forum called Ending Teen Violence at Ross Sheppard Composite High School.

On December 17th, 2006 Gary Hunt took part in a vigil honouring Dylan Cole McGillis. McGillis was swarmed and stabbed to death on Whyte Avenue on November 19th, 2006.

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On January 27th, 2007 Gary Hunt reported to Edmonton police that several violations of an accused 17-year-old's court-ordered release had taken place.

Hunt said police told him there was nothing they could do at the time and that a sergeant would return his call. He was later told the matter would be forwarded to the Crown prosecutor's office for review.

In the meantime, Hunt wrote a letter outlining his account of the violations to Rob Nicholson, the federal justice minister, Ron Stevenson, Alberta's justice minister as well as to Alberta premier Ed Stelmach.

A copy of the letter has been removed from this web site as it contravened provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

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On February 11th, 2007 the Edmonton Sun reported that a group of Calgarians planned to appear at the murder trial of Michael Briscoe and Joseph Laboucan as part of their effort to lobby the federal government to reinstate the death penalty.

Briscoe and Joseph Laboucan were charged with first-degree murder in the death of Nina Courtepatte.

The occasion marked the first instance in recent time that the issue of capital punishment was raised in connection with Edmonton's murder problem.

For Gary Hunt's reaction to issue of the death penalty, visit the Why Edmonton? Capital Punishment page.

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On February 19th, 2007 it was reported that a judge will review the release conditions of the 17-year-old accused of stabbing Josh Hunt to death.

A hearing set for February 21st, 2007 could result in the youth being returned to prison.

On November 16th, 2006 the young offender's lawyer Peter Royal made an application under Section 31 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The section allows a youth whose bail has been denied to be placed in the care of a “responsible person” instead of being detained in custody if certain conditions are met.

Judge Jack Easton ruled in favour of the defence application but attached a string of strict conditions before granting custody of the 17-year-old to the boy's 67-year-old grandfather.

Crown prosecutor Christian Lim opposed the boy's placement because of the nearly 50-year age gap. The youth turned 18 on January 17th, 2007.

On January 27th, 2007 Gary Hunt reported to Edmonton police that several violations of the accused's release had taken place.

Hunt gave police video footage taken by a private detective that he said proved the grandfather had broken conditions of the release.

Crown Prosecutor Christian Lim said "the release conditions are still a bit unclear" and that he would be clarifying them with a judge and the accused's lawyer on February 21st.

"The Crown is concerned about the interpretation of the release terms. In particular, we're trying to get clarification on when the adult has to be in the presence of the accused," Lim said.

Hunt's private investigator said he gave police video footage of the grandfather leaving his home for prolonged periods of time without the accused.

"On January 27th, 2007 he left the home to set up a banquet for his catering business. A judge might understand that – a man has to work – but then he went to the casino to play VLTs," the investigator told the Edmonton Sun, wanting his name to remain unpublished.

The grandfather was also taped away from the accused the night of January 28th.

"I imagine the [Edmonton Police Service] will take a serious look at this," the investigator said.

Gary Hunt wanted the accused put back in jail, but legal sources advised him that police are waiting for the judge's ruling before acting.

Lim agreed, saying "it's up to a judge to clarify the definition of breach. Then it's up to the police to lay charges."

He said the judge's recent interpretation of Section 31 in court could "reasonably lead Mr. Hunt to understand the grandfather must be there at all times," but said the matter wouldn't be formally settled until the hearing on the 21st.

Hunt said he hoped the court finds the grandfather wasn't living up to the terms of his grandson's release.

"If the grandfather is found in breach, [the accused] could go right to jail," Hunt told the Sun. "He's [an accused] murderer."

"It was bad enough he was denied bail but released. I don't think the public wants him alone at home, unsupervised."

Speaking to Global Edmonton, Hunt gave his assessment of the situation.

"His grandfather is an ex-police officer. He should know the law, he should respect the law and abide by the law more than just the average layperson."

"I'm hoping that the judge will see that there's no excuse for this."

The homicide investigator in charge of the Hunt case could not be reached by the Sun for comment.

Gary Hunt circulated a letter outlining details of the breach of release conditions and his attempts to bring the matter before the courts. Included is Hunt's unsuccessful attempts to serve the grandfather with a legal document during times a curfew was in effect.

A copy of the petition has been removed from this web site as it contravened provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The matter of the breach of release conditions came just days before Hunt was to stop collecting signatures for his petition calling for changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The petition had gathered more than 30,000 signatures and would circulate until February 28th, 2007.

“We've got a lot of momentum on this, and we're hoping it will encourage the federal government to change the way courts let young violent offenders get away with murder,” Hunt said.

Hunt plans to hand-deliver the petitions to the legislature on March 10th, and hopes to be joined by the families of other recent youth homicide victims, including Shane Rolston, Evan Grykuliak and Dylan McGillis.

“We're having a public rally at City Hall at 2:00 p.m. and walking to the legislature where we'll meet Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont MP Mike Lake.”

Hunt said he had received letters of support from Mayor Stephen Mandel, Premier Ed Stelmach, Justice Minister Ron Stevens, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

An Edmonton Sun news poll asked Edmontonians "Do you support Gary Hunt's petition?"

82% responded Yes while 18% responded No.

421 voted on the one-day voluntary poll which allowed only one response per computer.

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On February 21st, 2007 it was expected that a judge would review the release conditions of the 17-year-old accused, however the judge involved was not available and the hearing was rescheduled for the next day.

In place of the review, dates were set for a preliminary hearing.

A two-week hearing was slated to begin October 24th, 2007 in youth court.

Preliminary hearings are used to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

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On February 22nd, 2007 youth court Judge Jack Easton told the grandfather charged with acting as a jailer for a 17-year-old accused of murder that he must be with his grandson at all times.

“At all times [the grandfather] is to supervise this young man. The grandfather accepted this responsibility and I trusted him given his background. When the accused must be in the house, the grandfather must be with him,” Easton said.

Easton told the grandfather that he can not leave his grandson home alone with the grandmother. He did amend the release conditions so that the grandmother can drive the accused to and from work in the event of an emergency such as the grandfather being too sick to do so.

Outside court, Gary Hunt said he would have preferred to see the accused back behind bars, but is satisfied with the judge clarifying the release conditions.

“It's for public safety,” said Hunt. “He has to be watched closely. He's an accused killer.”

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On March 4th, 2007 – the day before a rally planned by the mother of Nina Courtepatte – Gary Hunt was contacted by CTV Edmonton for an update on the progress of his petition drive.

Hunt said he would be joining other families who have been the victims of violence, including Nina's mother Peacha Atkinson and Kelly Rolston.

"What we're trying to do is just get all the victims' families together which we're doing very, very well at and joining together because we're aiming for the same thing and that is change in the justice system for accountability."

"It's just time now that things have to change."

"At the end of the day if people aren't accountable, or made accountable, for their actions – then there's nothing learned, nothing taught and the safety of our country is totally compromised."

Hunt suggested additional jail time and intense rehabilitation is required before release or teens will feel immune to the justice system.

"Most of these guys nowadays are coming back for their eighteenth time. So obviously it's just not working at all."

CTV also spoke to Grace Johnston, whose son Leo was one of four RCMP officers killed in a shootout in Mayerthorpe, Alberta on March 3rd, 2005.

She applauded Hunt's efforts but couldn't understand why 110,000 people signed a petition against animal cruelty after an incident in central Alberta, but only 30,000 have signed Hunt's.

"What does that say about our society and where it's going?" Johnston wondered.

Hunt also said he was perplexed.

"When you see a petition that has many more signatures – and I mean twice many signatures – for a dog over human life and many human lives, you ask yourself 'What is really going on in society today?' "

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On March 10th, 2007 hundreds of Albertans whose lives have been touched by violence gathered in Edmonton's Sir Winston Churchill Square.

They had come together to collect signatures on petitions calling for stiffer penalties under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

For rally organiser Gary Hunt, the event was the culmination of six months of work collecting signatures and keeping the issue of what he felt was needed change to the Youth Criminal Justice Act before the public.

He said he had collected about 45,000 petition signatures to send to Ottawa after his 16-year-old son Josh Hunt was stabbed by a young offender at a Mill Woods house party.

“We said we're going to do something about [youth violence] and we're going to make many changes,” Hunt said. “The changes are coming and you're going to see it really soon.”

For more about the rally, visit the Why Edmonton? A Silent March For Justice page.

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On May 5th, 2007 Gary Hunt, along with relatives and friends of Nina Courtepatte, Shane Rolston, Dylan McGillis and Sara Easton, all teenagers killed in the Edmonton area over the past two years, gathered in the basement of Sacred Heart Church.

Together they held the inaugural meeting of the Citizens' Rights Group, an organisation whose mandate is to lobby government for improvements to the criminal justice system.

For more about their efforts, visit the Why Edmonton? Citizens' Rights Group Forms page.

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On May 7th, 2007 Gary Hunt turned over to police a tape made by his hired private investigator that shows a teen charged with second-degree murder breaching terms of his release.

It was the second time since being released into the custody of his grandfather that the teen has been videotaped allegedly violating conditions of his bail.

On February 22nd, 2007 youth court Judge Jack Easton told the grandfather charged with acting as a jailer for the 17-year-old that he must be with his grandson at all times.

Hunt's investigator had taped the man away from the accused on two nights late in January. The latest incident was said to have occurred on May 5th.

Under strict conditions the teen was not to leave his grandfather's home on weekends, Hunt said in an interview with the Edmonton Sun.

“It's frustrating. He's out on our streets like nothing happened. It's sick, it really is,” Hunt said.

“They [the accused and his family] have no respect for the law, no respect for the fact my son has been [killed].”

The private detective, who didn't want his name published, told the paper he began following the pair about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday the 5th.

The two allegedly drove to a Domo gas station on Saddleback Road, before going to a CIBC branch at the corner of Whitemud Drive and Gateway Boulevard, the detective said.

They allegedly went to Brothers Quality Meats and Deli in the Capilano area before returning home.

Hunt said that the accused was allegedly left alone in the vehicle at the gas station while his grandfather paid for the gas.

“He [the accused] has to be Saran-Wrapped to him [his grandfather],” Hunt said of the apparent breach.

Hunt also said that when the accused allegedly went into the Capilano butcher shop, he was breaking a condition to stay away from knives.

The father of murdered teen Josh Hunt described the video as “very clear,” and a copy was made available to police.

“We are aware of these allegations and they are being investigated,” a police spokesman said. “The ball is rolling.”

Hunt said his private detective will continue to monitor the accused teen.

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On December 27th, 2007 two alleged breaches of bail conditions brought the young offender accused of the second-degree murder of Josh Hunt back into court – and back onto the streets the same day – much to the dismay of the victim's father.

Gary Hunt told media the now 18-year-old accused was spotted outside the Hunt family home taunting family members on Christmas evening.

Under the teen's conditions of release he must stay at least three blocks away from the Hunt residence, have no contact with the victim's family or witnesses, and be in the custody of his grandfather at all times.

Hunt said the teen was seen outside a nearby convenience store shortly after 9:00 p.m. Christmas Day. The father was in the store at the time but didn't see the teen himself.

"Once they recognised us they left the store area very fast," Hunt said.

When he got home Hunt learned the teen had stopped outside his house a few minutes earlier, riding in a white Chevrolet Cavalier with his brother.

"He was basically 15 feet from my property, taunting my son and my nephew," Hunt said.

After the teen kept saying "Come on, come on" from the car, Hunt's son and nephew ran into the house.

"I sit here and wonder where's the safety here when he comes that close to the house," Hunt told media. "It really feels like just a bad nightmare."

Police arrested the young offender on Boxing Day and laid two charges of breaching conditions. The teen was released on $1,000 bail after spending a night in the Edmonton Remand Centre.

The teen was originally denied bail in November 2006, but was released into the custody of his grandfather, a retired police officer, under a section of the Youth Criminal Justice Act available after a youth has been denied bail.

Hunt said the teen's presence was "too close for comfort," and he hoped the courts would put the young offender back in jail prior to the continuation of a preliminary hearing in February 2008.

"Obviously he's a risk. He was a risk right from the beginning. Now he's definitely more of a risk and we don't feel safe at all," Hunt said.

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On February 7th, 2008 Crown prosecutors dropped breach of bail charges against the youth accused in the murder of Josh Hunt. The breach was alleged to have occurred on Christmas Day, 2007.

Chief Crown prosecutor Steven Bilodeau said three senior prosecutors reviewed the case and decided that "no judge or jury, on any legal standards, could convict beyond a reasonable doubt."

Bilodeau added the dropping of these charges had nothing to do with the youth's upcoming preliminary hearing which was scheduled to resume February 15th, 2008.

According to Bilodeau, prosecutors received credible statements from both sides regarding the alleged bail breaches.

"It's not a matter of saying someone is not telling the truth," he said. "What we need to do is take a look at all of (the evidence) and see, if at the end of a day, whether any judge could say beyond a reasonable doubt that they knew what happened that night.

“We're sympathetic to the terrible loss the Hunt family. We just didn't have enough to proceed,” Bilodeau said.

News of the Crown not proceeding on the charges brought near-predictable reaction from the Hunt family.

“This isn't the first time he's breached his (release) condition, the police and courts just refuse to lock him up,” Josh's father Gary Hunt said.

In the past, Hunt has gone to great lengths to monitor the accused's release conditions, even hiring a private investigator to follow the young offender. Bail conditions include a curfew and constant supervision by his grandfather.

In February 2007 a judge dismissed a similar attempt to have the accused remanded into custody after Hunt submitted video footage which indicated the accused's grandfather was leaving him unsupervised for prolonged periods of time.

“It's all very frustrating,” Hunt said. “We know he's breaching his conditions. We just can't satisfy the courts no matter what we do.”

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deadmonton 2006 - joshua hunt