Crown to seek terrorism clause in Neelin case
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Federal prosecutors intend to apply for a rarely used criminal code provision on terrorism in the case of a teen charged in last year’s sword attack at a Brandon high school.
The provision allows offenders to be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.
The 17-year-old boy is accused of stabbing another student with a sword at École secondaire Neelin High School on June 10, 2025, leaving him with deep cuts to his hands, chest and thigh. He also allegedly chased another student and a staff member.
Several Brandon Police Service vehicles sit parked outside École Secondaire Neelin High School on June 10 where one student allegedly attacked another with a sword. (File)
The Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits the Sun from naming the accused, who is charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts each of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and assault with a weapon.
He is also charged with disguise with intent and aggravated assault.
The teen is scheduled to stand trial on all charges from June 7-25, 2027 in Brandon’s Court of King’s Bench.
Defence lawyer Bob Harrison said his client has entered not-guilty pleas to the charges, but couldn’t recall exactly when.
A federal prosecutor told the Sun on Wednesday that a little-used provision in the criminal code would be invoked in the case.
“The Public Prosecution Service of Canada provided notice of their intention to seek the application of 83.27(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada,” Crown attorney Jennifer Comack said in an email.
If the application is granted, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada will argue that the offences constitute an act of terrorism, and the court would be allowed to sentence the accused to life in prison, federal lawyer Judy Kliewer confirmed with the Sun.
Police described the attack as a “targeted act of hate,” specifically against people of colour and immigrants.
Roughly a week after the teen was arrested, a judge ordered a mental-health assessment to determine the accused’s mental state and whether he had a psychological disorder, emotional disturbance, learning disability or mental disability.
In September 2025, the Crown gave notice of its intention to seek an adult sentence if the accused was found or pleaded guilty.
Section 83.27 of the criminal code was applied in July 2025 in Quebec when the Attorney General granted federal prosecutors permission to use the section to pursue the case of a man charged with uttering threats as a terrorism-related offence.
Mohamed Abdullah Warsame, 51, was charged one month earlier after he allegedly told an employee at a homeless shelter that he wanted to build bombs to detonate on public transit in Montreal.
» sanderson@brandonsun.com