Teen convicted of manslaughter back in jail after allegedly breaching release conditions

One of the four teens convicted in the killing of Ahmad Al Marrach last year is back behind bars, after allegedly breaching some of her release conditions.

Following a hearing Thursday afternoon in Nova Scotia youth court, the teen discovered she'll have to spend at least three more weeks in jail.

The Crown alleges the girl contacted her boyfriend, one of the other four teens, who have each been ordered to have no contact with one another.

Following the alleged breach, the girl was taken back into custody at the Waterville Youth Detention Centre in the Annapolis Valley.

Her arrest also cost her the services of legal aid lawyer Brandon Rolle, who negotiated her guilty plea, but has withdrawn from her file.

He's been replaced by Halifax defence lawyer Godfrey Chongatera, who made his first court appearance in the case Thursday afternoon.

Chongatera told Judge Mark Heerema he would need time to familiarize himself with the file. The earliest all parties could get together for a hearing is Aug. 22.

At that time, the Crown will try to convince the judge that the girl has committed breaches. If they succeed in those arguments, the question will then be what — if any — additional punishment she should receive.

The girl has been serving an intensive rehabilitative sentence which started with three months in jail, followed by two years of close supervision in the community.

Her boyfriend is the one who actually killed Al Marrach, stabbing him in the chest with a stolen knife.

He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is in the midst of being sentenced. The other two teens involved in the attack on Al Marrach have each been convicted of manslaughter.

All four swarmed the 16-year-old in a parking garage at the Halifax Shopping Centre in April of last year.