The family of Kaylee Gain, the teen hospitalized following the viral fight near Hazelwood East High School in Missouri, has acknowledged her alleged attacker’s desire to apologize.
Their response comes after a judge said the state must determine if 15-year-old Maurnice DeClue will be tried as an adult in this case, KTVI reported. The teen was charged with assault and has been in the custody of St. Louis County Family Court since the altercation in early March that left Gain, 16, with severe injuries. Video captured the accused slamming Gain’s head on the pavement multiple times.
While local officials and Gain’s family suggested that DeClue should receive a harsher charge, the county juvenile attorneys requested an additional 30 days to finish a report that highlights her background, according to the report. The hearing to determine whether DeClue shall be certified as an adult for the case is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10.
“Our position is that she should not be certified. We understand that the law says that there has to be a certification hearing based on what she has been charged with,” DeClue’s attorney, Greg Smith, told Fox 2 Now. “That’s non-negotiable, but our position is she should not be certified. Everything is out there, about her being an honor student, she was taking AP courses, she has no history with the juvenile court. She has been the victim of bullying. There are other facts that we are going to save for court.”
Since the incident, DeClue’s family has echoed similar sentiments about her character and achievements in a Charge.org petition as well as interviews with local news stations.
Her mother Consuella told KSDK that DeClue was “not the aggressor,” but that she still wants to apologize to Gain. After the judge’s ruling on Monday, Gain’s family released a statement.
“The family is encouraged, however, by public statements by those associated with the accused stating…
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