Charges upgraded to 2nd-degree murder against man accused of killing 3-year-old Winnipeg boy

The man arrested for stabbing a three-year-old Winnipeg boynow facesa more serious chargeof second-degree murder.

DanJensen, 33, was arrested last weekand initially charged with attempted murder for the attack on Hunter Smith-Straight.

The charge has been upgraded following Hunter's death, police said Thursday.Hunter was on life-support after he was attacked early on Oct. 30. He died threedays later.

Hunter's aunt Bianca Smith toldCBCNews she was hoping Jensen would instead be charged with premeditated, first-degree murder.

"This is not what we were expecting," Smith said in a statement late Thursday afternoon.

"The only words we can say is we are not happy and definitely not okay with this, we're all angryand shocked."

In consultation with Manitoba Justice, members of the Winnipeg police major crimes unit obtained a warrant to charge Jensen with the more serious offence.

Police said on the night Hunter was stabbed, Jensen, who is not the boy's father, was with Hunter's mother, Clarice Smith his on-again, off-again girlfriend at a location on Main Street.

They got into an argument that escalated into a violent assault against Smith, according to police.

From there, Jensen walked to the home a few blocks away on Pritchard Avenue, between Salter and Charles streets, and attacked Hunter while he slept, police allege.

Officers were called around 2:30 a.m. local timeon Oct. 30 and Hunter was rushed to hospital in critical condition, given two blood transfusions and put on life support.

Jensen was arrested later the same day.