Lawyer: Teen accused of stabbing her brother to death has no prior criminal record
The 15-year-old charged in the stabbing death of her older brother has no prior criminal record or history of violence, according to her lawyer.
The teen was arraigned in Hamilton County Juvenile Court on Tuesday. She faces two counts of murder in the death of her 16-year-old brother.
Police said the killing happened in the 1500 block of Meredith Drive around 11 a.m. Monday. Officers said the brother was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he died.
Officers were called to the scene by a woman who identified herself as the teens' mother.
"My children were fighting because my son stole my daughter's Play Station 4 and she stabbed him," the 911 caller said. "I don't think she ever realized she had done it."
The woman said her son had run into the parking lot. She said he had been stabbed in the area of his stomach and rib cage. According to the call, the family applied pressure to the wound waiting for police to arrive.
During the 911 call, the woman said her daughter was with them and was unarmed.
The Enquirer is not naming the victim because it would identify the accused who is a juvenile.
In court Tuesday, lawyer Sam Heller argued that his client should be released with a GPS monitoring unit to her mother and grandmother.
"She has no record whatsoever, no record of violence within the home," Heller said. He said the teen had just completed her freshmen year of high school and was hoping to run track the following year.
Magistrate Ronna Lucas denied the request ordering the teen to be held in detention awaiting trial, but filed a referral for her to be assessed for additional services. One of the magistrate's concerns was the safety of the teen. Lucas said it's impossible to know what impact these accusations could have on her life.
The teen appeared for the hearing via Zoom from juvenile detention. Her parents also attended via Zoom.
"We need her. She needs us," her mother said. "This is a tragic situation. She's just a kid."
"Overall, she's a good kid," her father said. "This is an isolated incident. She doesn't fully understand what's going on right now."
Her father also requested a face-to-face meeting with their daughter. Lucas said she could approve a Zoom meeting, but COVID-19 restrictions at the detention center might prevent an in-person meeting.
Lucas offered her sympathies to the family, who must now arrange a funeral for one of their children and manage murder charges for another.
Prosecutors said they intend to file a motion to try the teen as an adult. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 28.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lawyer: Teen accused of stabbing brother has no criminal record
