Adult sentencing hearing starts for Hannah Leflar's killer

Over the next two weeks, Crown prosecutors will try to make the case thatthe teenage boy who stabbed Hannah Leflar to death should be sentenced as an adult.

They need to pay for it.- Janet Leflar, Hannah Leflar's mother

Leflar, 16, was murdered in herRegina home by two 16-year-old boys in January 2015. Both teens pleaded guilty tomurder but cannot be named under theYouth Criminal Justice Act because of their age at the time of the killing.

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The Crown is seeking adult sentences for both youths. This hearing is for the 19-year-old boy who stabbed Leflar 10 times and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

An online petition called for Leflar's killers to be treated as adults.

'Project Zombifyis complete'

In January 2015, the boys hatched a plan, dubbed "Project Zombify,"to hurt Leflar's boyfriend. According to the Crown, it morphed into a plan to killLeflar.

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After her murder, the second teen, who didn't wield a knife, texted a friend that "Project Zombify is complete."

Hannah's mother, Janet Leflar, spoke to reporters in February and voiced her disgust over how "blatant" the execution of the murder was. Sheexpressed hope for adult sentences: "They need to pay for it."

Stiffer sentence

The Crown says it will present evidence and call witnesses, including police officers, psychologists and psychiatrists, in its bid to convince Queen's Bench Justice Jennifer Pritchard to impose an adult sentence.

If the 19-year old at the centre of this hearingis sentenced as a youth, he would receive 10 years, of which six would be behind bars. With time served, he could be out in less than four; however, pre-trial custody is rarely credited by judges for youth murder cases.

If he's sentenced as an adult, he would serve a life sentence in a federal penitentiary with no chance of parole for 10 years, which differs from most adult sentences that restrict parole eligibility to 25 years.

He'd be subject to parole conditions for the rest of his life. His name would also become public.

The adult sentencing hearing for the teenager who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder is scheduled to take place in the fall.