Slaughter of the Innocents

A six-year-old aboriginal child in Saskatchewan is now being mourned after he was beaten to death by another aboriginal child. Six years separated them; the killer was slightly under 12 years of age. "I will confirm that the person responsible for Lee Bonneau's death is under the age of 12. Any further comment on this tragedy will have to await our media availability", commented an RCMP spokesman.

There can be no criminal charges laid against the child under twelve years of age, under Canadian law. He is a boy who was known to area police as a troubled child. Incriminating evidence? His clothing spattered with blood. The six-year old was discovered on the Kahkewistahaw First Nation reserve critically injured. Injuries consistent with assault, according to autopsy results.

Death by homicide caused by severe head injuries.

The day he died, 21 August, the child was playing outside the First Nation's Education and Sports Complex at about 8:30 in the evening. His caregiver reported him missing. When he was found at 10:20 p.m. he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. His funeral took place in Regina. In the care of the province's Ministry of Social Services, another child dead on yet another Indian reserve.

And in Brockville, Ontario a young boy just turned sixteen, out just after midnight, skateboarding with a friend was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by a 23 year-old who was driving impaired. Joseph Greer charged with impaired driving and speeding; his companion Rusty Greer 21, charged with failing to remain at the scene. Both men have also been charged with indignity to a dead body.

For whatever reason that may become clear in the days ahead the third charge was added. The "indignity" charge "is in relation to not providing or attempting to provide medical assistance to the victim. That's where that charge is stemming from", explained OPP Sgt. Kristine Rae. It seems the two young men moved the 16-year-old they hit from the scene of the crash to a second location in Brockville.

The reason they chose to move the young boy they had mortally struck with their vehicle is not clear. What is clear is that it appears not to have occurred to the two young men that the boy's life might be saved if they immediately sought help for him. Of course, to do so would have revealed their culpability and hence their decision to let him die without the slightest desire to save him.

It was that second location which was where first-responders reached the trauma victim, after being alerted to the situation, trying to restore life to him, and failing in their attempt. Aaron Stevenson did not have the opportunity to return to school on Tuesday at Brockville Collegiate Institute. Just as six-year-old Lee Allan Bonneau will not now, not ever, begin Grade two.