Charges against Muslim girl withdrawn
16-year-old Leo Hayes High School student had been accused of assault, uttering threats
A prosecutor withdrew assault and threats charges against a Muslim girl last week, bringing one chapter of a controversial confrontation at a Fredericton high school to a close.
A 16-year-old Fredericton-area girl - who can’t be identified as per the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act - was charged last year with summary counts of assault and uttering threats.
The charges arose as a result of events at Leo Hayes High School on April 30, during which it was alleged the Muslim girl had assaulted another student, a Jewish girl who similarly can’t be named for the same reason.
The incident made headlines around the country, as the complainant alleged the assault was driven by anti-Semitism and against the backdrop of the war between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza.