Updated: Fri Jun. 19 2009 10:13:03
ctvedmonton.ca
A teenaged boy in government care has been charged in last weekend's murder in north Edmonton.
This is the second time in less than a month that a ward of the province is accused of murder.
The 16-year-old boy was taken into police custody from a home near 94 Street and 120 Avenue last night. He is charged with second degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of Curtis Todd Osterlund.
Osterlund, 39, died in hospital June 12 after he was found collapsed over a bicycle rack in a parking lot between Londonderry Junior High School and M.E. Lazerte High School just after 10 p.m.
Detective Bill Clark says the accused recently moved to the Edmonton area from the Saddle Lake area.
He was a permanent ward of the province.
"He was living with extended family at the time the incident happened and he was not absent without leave or a runaway from any facility," said Trevor Coulombe, spokesperson for Alberta Children and Youth Services,
Police believe that the accused, a 16-year-old female and 22-year-old male met Osterlund in a park at 144 Avenue and 71 Street. It's alleged Osterlund was fatally stabbed after an argument broke out. He was taken to hospital but later succumbed to his wounds.
Investigators identified and interviewed the two others, allegedly at the scene, but neither are facing charges.
NDP MLA Rachel Notley is reiterating her call for a public inquiry into child protection services.
"In our view, this is indicative of the fact that the system is not working," said Notley.
"Despite the best efforts of children intervention systems around the work, no child intervention system is without tragedy," said Coulombe.
Osterlund's family wasn't available to comment on charges in their case, but the dead man's father earlier told CTV he's not looking for retribution.
"Punishing someone doesn't help me," said Gerald Osterlund. "It doesn't bring my son back."
Because the accused is a ward of the province, NDP MLA Rachel Notley is once again calling for a full review of the provincial ward system.
"In our view, this is indicative of the fact that the system is not working," said Notley.
She first demanded the review after Barry Boenke and Susan Trudel were found murdered in Strathcona County on June 1.
Two teens from a nearby facility for troubled youth, Bosco Homes, face charges in connection with that crime.
The youth accused in the Osterlund murder cannot be named because of his age.
With files from CTV's Susan Amerongen
