3 teen girls expected to plead guilty in swarming death of Kenneth Lee in Toronto, court hears

Three teenage girls are expected to plead guilty in the swarming death of Kenneth Lee near Union Station in December 2022, court heard Friday.

The girls, aged 13, 13, and 14, appeared in provincial court in Toronto.

Three other girls, aged 15, 16, and 16, are expected to plead not guilty, court heard.

Eight teenage girls were initially charged with second-degree murder in connection with Lee's death. They range in age from 13 to 16 years old.

Lee, 59, was pronounced dead in hospital on Dec. 18, after a group of girls downtown allegedly beat him and stabbed him in the early morning hours.

A witness previously told CBC Toronto that the attack began after the girls allegedly took a liquor bottle from Lee and his friend.

The identities of the accused cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Other pleas are expected as court continues Friday.