Bail denied for teen accused of murdering Calgary police officer
Two teenagers charged with 1st-degree murder in death of Sgt. Andrew Harnett
The teen accused of murdering Calgary police Sgt. Andrew Harnett has been denied bail.
The now-18-year-old cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act because he was 17 years old when he was accused of killing the officer.
On Thursday morning, youth court Judge Steve Lipton denied bail to the teen, after hearing arguments last week from prosecutor Doug Taylor, who opposed bail, and defence lawyer Kaysi Fagan, who argued for her client's release.
Lipton's reasons for denying release, as well as the arguments and evidence presented at the bail hearing, are protected by a publication ban.
Taylor has indicated that if convicted, the Crown would seek an adult sentence for the youth, and that could mean life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 10 years.
Harnett, 37, was killed on New Year's Eve when he was fatally injured during a traffic stop by a fleeing SUV, which police allege was being driven by the youth.
Amir Abdulrahman, 19, also faces a charge of first-degree murder.
The accused's siblings and mother, along with journalists and two police officers, were in court for the hearing.
Harnett was patrolling the streets in District 5 on New Year's Eve when, around 11 p.m., he pulled over an SUV that didn't have its lights on.
After speaking with the driver, who police allege is the younger accused teen, Harnett was in the process of issuing traffic tickets related to the driver's graduated licence and headlights.
CBC News previously reported that Harnett was carried 400 metres before he was flung from the fleeing SUV.
Other officers and paramedics tried to save Harnett, but he died in hospital shortly after arrival.
Court documents show Abdulrahman was wanted on four warrants, including one for assault and three for failure to comply with court orders.
Abdulrahman's bail hearing is set to take place next month.