Both teens, aged 14 and 16, cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). The younger teen is charged with manslaughter, while the older teen is accused of second degree murder in the death of Mississauga resident Brandon Paltooram, who was knifed in the early morning hours of Oct. 11 outside a house party on Rosewater Court, near Eglinton Ave. W. and Mavis Rd.
The 14-year-old will be appearing in Brampton court for a bail hearing Nov. 12, while the 16-year-old will be trying for bail Nov. 10.
"My client is 100 per cent maintaining his innocence in this matter and he has the support of his family," said Gary Batasar, the lawyer for the 14-year-old. "These allegations are about as serious as you can get and we will be vigorously defending these charges."
A 17-year-old is also facing a manslaughter charge and an additional charge of accessory to murder after the fact. He'll be back in court Nov. 12, but it's not yet known whether he'll be seeking bail. He too cannot be identified under the YCJA.
Paltooram was coming to the aid of his girlfriend, who was being assaulted by a group of individuals, when he was fatally wounded, police said.
A 20-year-old Toronto man was also stabbed in the altercation, but survived and is co-operating with police.
Paltooram, a St. Joseph Secondary School graduate and in his second year at the University of Guelph-Humber, was studying business to become a chartered accountant. He was an avid cricket player, according to his father, Shawn Paltooram.
Brandon and his younger sister, 17-year-old Jessica, were “inseparable,” the elder Paltooram said.
lrosella@mississauga.net
