Youth defending himself in attack on woman, court told

An Edmonton teen was defending himself when he punched Shannon Barry in the face, his lawyer told a youth court judge Thursday.

Barry had her jaw broken and her eye socket crushed in the April 17, 2010 attack which she believes was provoked after she identified herself as a lesbian.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is on trial for aggravated assault.

Barry's friends testified they were walking home after celebrating a birthday when a group of young men came up behind them and began hurling homophobic insults.

When Barry moved towards the group, she stumbled and fell onto the street. Barry's friends testified that one of the members of the group then kicked her in the head.

In her final arguments, defence lawyer Gloria Grieco told youth court Judge Danielle Dalton her client did not kick Barry in the head; he punched her in the face in self-defence. Grieco suggested one of the youth's friends was responsible for kicking Barry.

Grieco told the judge that police laid charges against the most naive member of the group after an investigation that was rushed because of public pressure to make an arrest in the case.

But Crown prosecutor Dave Hill urged the judge to find the teen guilty.

He argued that every witness, except the accused, testified that Barry sustained her injuries from only one blow a kick to the head. Hill told the judge that all evidence pointed to the accused.

The judge will give her decision June 27.