Toronto Sun - The case of a 15-year-old Asian boy who was the only person charged in a Keswick high school fight -- despite allegations he was subjected to a racial slur and punched first by his opponent -- will be re-opened for further investigation, says York Region's top cop.
York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge said yesterday police will now look into whether the other boy involved in the fight should face assault or hate-crime charges.
La Barge ordered a hate crimes officer and a senior detective to re-examine the case, which resulted in the 15-year-old boy of Asian descent being charged with assault causing bodily harm for allegedly punching and breaking his opponent's nose during gym class last Tuesday. The incident has galvanized students and parents in Keswick, a lakeside community of about 21,000 in the Township of Georgina.
'COULD BE CHARGED'
"If the evidence indicates that the young boy who ultimately got his nose broken was the instigator, or threw the first punch, then it's quite possible he could be charged with Assault Level 1," La Barge said in an interview.
La Barge's directive came a day after hundreds of Keswick High students rallied against racism to show support for the charged student.
The boy, who is a martial arts black-belt, said he didn't want to scrap. He has maintained in interviews over the past two days that he resorted to self-defence after the other boy labelled him a "f---ing Chinese" and punched him first, bloodying his lip.
"Let's just say (hypothetically) I punched him first on the nose," the black-belt boy said. "He'd be down there (on the ground) -- he couldn't punch me. I'm confused. Because he punched me. That's why I punched him.
"I just don't know what to say," the boy said. "I don't get this."
La Barge said after he reviewed the file yesterday morning, it initially appeared the boy facing charges wasn't the fight's instigator.
RACIAL COMMENTS
"Certainly from what I'm reading here, it would appear that the individual that sustained the most injury in the fight was the instigator, and it was as a consequence, to my understanding, of him having made some racial comments," La Barge said. Still, La Barge cautioned he'll wait to see what evidence the renewed investigation brings before reaching conclusions.
When asked if the initial charge could be dropped or if more charges could be laid in the case, La Barge responded anything was possible.
The charged boy, who isn't Chinese, maintained he used his left hand to control his punch because as a black-belt, he didn't want to inflict excessive damage.
His opponent was left with significant injuries, including a broken nose, a possible deviated septum and a possible concussion.
Neither boy can be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Both boys have been suspended.
The case of a 15-year-old Asian boy who was the only person charged in a Keswick high school fight -- despite allegations he was subjected to a racial slur and punched first by his opponent -- will be re-opened for further investigation, says York Region's top cop.
York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge said yesterday police will now look into whether the other boy involved in the fight should face assault or hate-crime charges.
La Barge ordered a hate crimes officer and a senior detective to re-examine the case, which resulted in the 15-year-old boy of Asian descent being charged with assault causing bodily harm for allegedly punching and breaking his opponent's nose during gym class last Tuesday. The incident has galvanized students and parents in Keswick, a lakeside community of about 21,000 in the Township of Georgina.
'COULD BE CHARGED'
"If the evidence indicates that the young boy who ultimately got his nose broken was the instigator, or threw the first punch, then it's quite possible he could be charged with Assault Level 1," La Barge said in an interview.
La Barge's directive came a day after hundreds of Keswick High students rallied against racism to show support for the charged student.
The boy, who is a martial arts black-belt, said he didn't want to scrap. He has maintained in interviews over the past two days that he resorted to self-defence after the other boy labelled him a "f---ing Chinese" and punched him first, bloodying his lip.
"Let's just say (hypothetically) I punched him first on the nose," the black-belt boy said. "He'd be down there (on the ground) -- he couldn't punch me. I'm confused. Because he punched me. That's why I punched him.
"I just don't know what to say," the boy said. "I don't get this."
La Barge said after he reviewed the file yesterday morning, it initially appeared the boy facing charges wasn't the fight's instigator.
RACIAL COMMENTS
"Certainly from what I'm reading here, it would appear that the individual that sustained the most injury in the fight was the instigator, and it was as a consequence, to my understanding, of him having made some racial comments," La Barge said. Still, La Barge cautioned he'll wait to see what evidence the renewed investigation brings before reaching conclusions.
When asked if the initial charge could be dropped or if more charges could be laid in the case, La Barge responded anything was possible.
The charged boy, who isn't Chinese, maintained he used his left hand to control his punch because as a black-belt, he didn't want to inflict excessive damage.
His opponent was left with significant injuries, including a broken nose, a possible deviated septum and a possible concussion.
Neither boy can be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Both boys have been suspended.
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