Local News - A teenage boy, diagnosed with a bipolar disorder and living under virtual house arrest since he went on a violent rampage at his high school last October, has been placed on probation for two years.
The teen, who cant be named because he was 17 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty in Kingstons Youth Court to assault causing bodily harm to a schoolmate, assaulting a second, threatening several with death and damaging a vase and picture frames in a Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute office.
Hes since had an adjustment made to his medications.
Im really sorry for everything I did, the boy told Mr. Justice Rommel Masse. I cant remember it well.
I can now recognize the signs when Im not doing so well.
The judge told the teenager, who has since turned 18: Its clear to me that at the time you were going through a psychotic episode.
Assistant Crown attorney Janet OBrien told the court that the youth rattled fellow students with his fascination with swords and blades and his talk of cutting peoples throats so they would bleed and die.
He expressed admiration for the killers at Columbine High School in Colorado, calling them heroes, and said that he was going to kill anyone who insulted him.
On Oct. 29, he approached a male schoolmate, told him he was going to kill him and described how his blood would be all over the floor.
On another occasion, he threatened to kill a female schoolmate after she told him she didnt want him in the photographs she was taking of a group of students.
He told her he wanted to stab her in the lungs and watch her blood flow out, OBrien said.
On the day of his rampage, the Crown said, hed threatened to kill a female schoolmate and called her a hooker.
When another girl took him to task in the school hallway and asked him not to call her friend a prostitute, the youth called her trash, recited a graphic description of how he would kill her and punched her twice in the face, OBrien told the court.
A boy intervened and caught a punch in the face, too. It knocked him out and left his jaw numb, sending him to hospital for treatment.
The young assailant was brought under control long enough for teachers to get him into one of the school offices. Police were then called.
By the time police arrived, the teen had cut himself and smeared his blood over the walls and door of the office. On catching sight of the officers, he bolted and ran out of the school.
OBrien said the teen was caught after a brief foot chase.
The teens lawyer, Geoff Griffin, told the court that his client has difficulty recalling the details of that day because of his illness. Griffin assured the court that the teen has been following up with his treatment and pursuing his education at home.
The teens mother told the court that as a result of his October outburst her son has been expelled from every school in Ontario. They claim they dont have the resources to meet his special needs, she explained.
She told Masse that shell be meeting with one of the Limestone District School Board officials for help in developing a program to address her sons educational needs for next year.
Griffin also assured the court that his client has insight into his problem and is compliant with taking his medications.
This is a significant turn of events in this young mans life, Griffin told the court, but observed that a doctor who assessed the teen found that even with bipolar disorder his prognosis is quite favourable provided he takes the medications.
While on probation, the teen has been ordered to continue to live with his parents, but Masse told him he neednt observe a curfew unless his parents impose one and put it in writing.
Because of his illness, hes prohibited from drinking alcohol, even after he turns 19. He must take any counselling or therapy ordered by his probation officer and must take any medications prescribed for him.
Masse made it a condition of the teens probation that he not initiate communication with any of the former schoolmates he threatened or assaulted, but didnt impose an absolute non-communication order after learning that some still contact him by e-mail.
The teen was banned from entering LCVI or the school grounds.