2 accused in stabbing death of Hamilton teen appear in court

The 14-year-old and 18-year-old accused of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a Hamilton high school student madebrief court appearances by video Monday afternoon.

DevanBracci-Selvey, 14, was fatally stabbed in front of his motheroutside SirWinston Churchill Secondary School on the afternoon of Oct.7.

He died in her arms.

Investigators allege the 14-year-old is the personwho stabbed Devan.

Heappeared by video from the Arrell Youth Centre. High-profile criminal lawyer John Rosen was at Hamilton'sJohn SopinkaCourthouse on his behalf. It's not clear if Rosen will be representing the teen at trial.

The teen did not speak other than to identify himself and to confirm that he will be back in court in Hamilton on Wednesday to sort out a proceedural issue.

The 18-year-old, meanwhile, appeared by video from the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre.

He'll be represented by Jordana Goldlist, a Toronto criminal defence lawyer and is scheduled to be back in court on Nov.12.

Five people were originally taken into custody in connection with the homicide, according to Hamilton police, who said all fiveare current or formerstudents at Churchill.

Three people have since been released without charge.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the younger teen can't be identified, and a court-ordered publication ban is in place, meaning the18-year-old man also can't be named.

Det.-Sgt. Steve Bereziukwith the Hamilton Police Servicepreviously said chargesoffirst-degree murder were laid because investigators are "satisfied based on evidence that there is some element of pre-planning."

Shari-Ann Selvey,Devan's mother said her son was being bullied and that the school and board knew her son was being harassed since the beginning of the school year,but little was done to stop it.

"For a month, we've been trying to get this dealt with," Selvey said through tears, two days after Devan's death.

Both theHamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) and police haveconfirmedthey were notified of bullying incidents involvingDevan.

More than 300 people attended hisfuneral in Hamiltonon Oct.12, with many wearing pink ribbons and sharing an anti-bullying message.

Watch: Friends remember Devan Bracci-Selvey

Mourners gather for Devan Bracci-Selvey's funeral

5 years ago

Duration 1:25

Funeral for slain 14-year-old held in Hamilton on Saturday, with many mourners wearing pink to symbolize anti-bullying.

The school board has committed to conducting a formal review of its ofits bullying prevention practices once the policeinvestigationinto the death of Devan Bracci-Selveyiscomplete.

Board staff will also carry out their own "school-level" investigation into how it handled all of the students arrested.

The HWDSBhasalready begun looking intothe "behaviours" of three students who werereleased without charge,including a16-year-old boy and girl who were released, according to a spokesperson.

But the board says it will wait to hear from police before beginning itsinvestigation into the 14-year-oldand 18-year-old charged with first-degree murder.