Crown will seek adult sentence for 14-year-old accused in Mount Pearl murder case

In a rare move, Crown prosecutors in Newfoundland and Labrador are seekingan adult sentence for a14-year-old boy accused of murder.

The boy who cannot be named due to his age is accused of killing a 65-year-old woman in Mount Pearl on Aug. 3. Police have said the two were familiar with each otherbut have not disclosed the nature of their relationship.

While the accused has yet to stand trial, prosecutors Diedre Badcock and Holly Holm have already signalled their intentions to have him sentenced as an adult if convicted.

Badcock declined to comment toCBC News, saying it would inappropriate asthe matter is currently before the courts.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act allows people as young as 14 to be sentenced as adults. While the maximum youth sentence for murder is 10 years, an adult sentence can come with life imprisonment.

Little known about case

Few details were made public following the killing last August. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary was calledat 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 3 to the home on Smallwood Drive, where they found the woman's body.

Five days later, police announced a 14-year-old suspect was in custody.

Investigators were looking for a blue plastic recycling bag that they believed was connected to the crime.

The court case is still in the early stages, as the boy has yet to enter a plea.

Prosecutors have to announce their intentions for sentencing a youth as an adult before a plea is entered, so"the youth and their counsel can make decisions about the conduct of their case knowing the full extent of the youth's potential jeopardy," said Lisa Stead, director of public prosecutions in an email to CBC News.

Steaddeclined further comment, saying she was unable to speak about the case.

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