Two teens accused of being the principal perpetrators in the brutal beating of another student in Rivière-des-Prairies caught on video last fall will be going through traditional court procedures after being refused access to a program aimed at avoiding trial.
The two teens, who cannot be named because they are still minors, were interviewed and evaluated for the program which is normal procedure for youth accused of a minor crime who have no criminal record.
The 15-and 16-year-olds were originally charged with assault causing bodily harm but that has since been downgraded to simple assault because the medical report showed the victim did not sustain any serious injury.
The crown prosecutor said the two were not accepted into the program though no reasons were given.
The defence will now decide whether to go to trial.
The two youths were among five charged in connection with the beating of the teen in a park in RDP last October. A cellphone video of the assault shows five youths kicking and jumping on the boy while others stood around and watced.
One of the five youths was accepted into the program.
The two remaining youths pleaded guilty and received their sentences for their lesser role in the beating.