Hundreds attend funeral for teen homicide victim Hannah Leflar

About 800 people attended the funeral Thursday for Hannah Leflar, the 16-year-old Regina youth who was found dead in her home Jan. 12.

Two sixteen-year-old are in custody facing charges of first-degree murder. Their names can't be publicized because of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

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Leflar was a Grade 11 student at Thom Collegiate.

Among the mourners, Taylor Balfour, 16, remembered growing up with Leflar.

"I went to elementary school with her for a really long period of time," Balfour said Thursday. "It's just hard to believe how fast someone can be taken out of your life."

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Many people attending the funeral donned purple clothing, a nod to the teen's favourite colour. Some also wore T-shirts that bore the message "Justice for Hannah".

How the courts handle the accused youths has been a topic of considerable interest. Crown prosecutors have said they will, in the event of convictions, seek to impose adult sentences. An adult sentence on a first-degree murder conviction, applied to a youth, calls for a longer period of time in prison.

On Thursday, at the Turvey Centre where Leflar's funeral was held, the focus was on remembering the many positive attributes of the slain teen.

"It's been really depressing to think about but we're trying to keep it upbeat," Balfour said. "We're trying to think about the good times."

People told CBC News Thursday that efforts are underway to raise money to help Leflar's family with funeral expenses.

The accused youths return to court in early February.