15-year-old handed maximum youth punishment for violent Manitoba Liquor Mart robbery

A teen boy has received the maximum youth sentence for his involvementin violently attacking staff during a Winnipeg liquor store robbery last November.

The teen pleaded guilty in March to several charges, including multiple counts ofrobbery andassault, for his actions during the violent November incident at the Tyndall Market Liquor Mart, which shocked the province and led tofast-tracked enhanced security measures at provincial liquor stores.

Defence lawyer Matthew Muncesaid in anemailed statement on Tuesdayhis 15-year-old client was sentenced to three years in custody, which is the maximum sentencing for this type of offence for youth in Manitoba.

Judge Dale Schilleannounced his decision in provincial court on Tuesday morning.

The boy, who cannot be named, had previously pleaded guilty to five counts of robbery, three counts of assault, and one count each of assault causing bodily harm,uttering threats and count of mischief.

The Crown had asked for the maximum three-year sentence, while thedefence asked for a sentence of no more than 18 months and a period of supervised probation in the community.

"We're obviously disappointed. We felt that something less than the maximum sentence could have been considered appropriate," Munce said in his statement Tuesday evening.

"While we need to hold the young person accountable for their actions, we also need to ensure that we are taking the appropriate steps to ensure their rehabilitation," he said.

Crown attorney Lisa Carson said in an emailthe boy has been given a creditof 282 days for time served,leaving him to serve another 813 days.

A 21-year-old man and another youth are also accused in the robbery, during which Liquor Mart employees were assaulted, as were other victims in the strip mall's parking lot.

That Liquor Mart on Keewatin Street closed down to make security changes. It reopened a week after the Nov. 20 robbery with new requirements forcustomers to provide photo identification, which is scanned at a security station, before being allowed throughlocked inner doors.

Similar security measures have since been introduced at some other Liquor Marts in the city.