From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue Sep 22 2009 - 15:25:59 EDT
Police make arrest in cemetery beating death
Updated: Mon Sep. 21 2009 2:27:16 PM
The Canadian Press
A 14-year-old girl appeared in court Monday in connection with the Sept. 12
beating death of a man in a cemetery following her arrest this past weekend.
In addition, police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for the arrest of a
26-year-old man in connection with the death of Benson George Smith, 61.
Smith and another man were at the Pine Hills cemetery, located at the
intersection of Kennedy Road and St. Clair Avenue East.
"At this time, Mr. Smith and his friend were approached by a female and two
other males. The two males made a demand for property. The males commenced
beating Mr. Smith," Det. Michael Carbone told a Friday news conference.
Paramedics took Smith to hospital, but he died Friday after being taken off
life support. An autopsy found Smith died of blunt-force-trauma injuries.
Smith is the city's 41st homicide victim of 2009.
In the early morning hours of Monday, police arrested a 14-year-old girl and
charged her with first-degree murder.
She cannot be named due to provisions in the Youth Criminal Justice Act. She
will be back in court on Thursday.
Police named Merhawi Tekle, 26, of Toronto as the person they are seeking.
The charge is first-degree murder.
People with information are asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime
Stoppers
anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR
and a message to CRIMES (274637).