No bail for Halifax teen facing 33 charges related to firearms, threats

A youth court judge has denied bail for a Halifax teenager facing 33 charges, including firearms offences and uttering threats.

Judge Alan Tufts made the decision Tuesday, after listening to evidence for about a day and a half. The 16-year-old boy's name and all evidence shared at the bail hearing, including the reasons for Tufts's decision, are under a publication ban. These bans are common for bail hearings and proceedings involving young offenders.

The charges include 12 counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and four counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

The teen, who was arrested last month, is also facing two counts of wilfully promoting hatred against identifiable groups. Court documents previously obtained by CBC News show these charges stem from allegedly promoting hatred against Black and Jewish people through the creation of online groups.

He has also been charged with seven counts of careless use of a firearm and six counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.

CBC News has previously reported the teen was arrested after police received a tip from a suicide hotline operator alleging he shared thoughts about shooting up Citadel High School in Halifax and then taking his own life. 

When the judge shared the decision not to grant the youth bail, the teen's family in the courtroom appeared visibly upset, and one of his family members held her face in her hands.

Defence lawyer Emma Lutz, approached after the decision was shared Tuesday afternoon, declined to comment.

Crown lawyer Terry Nickerson said Tuesday afternoon that it's the Crown's opinion that "it was simply not safe to release him under the Criminal Code."

Nickerson said some of the 33 charges the teen is facing are "alleging some very serious weapons and threats violations."

"It really doesn't get any more serious than this, not without an overt act of violence having already happened," he told reporters outside the provincial court building in downtown Halifax.

Nickerson said Tufts's decision not to grant bail is "a very reasoned and very detailed decision," adding that the judge heard a day and a half of evidence.

"There is a large amount of disclosure already. There's a large amount still to come. And I think that his Honour, who's very, very experienced, made a reasoned decision based on all the evidence," he said.

The teenager is next scheduled to appear in youth court on Thursday morning.