Waterloo man, 18, lays in hospital with breathing tube listening to his first court appearance on first-degree murder

KITCHENER - An 18-year-old man lay in a hospital bed Friday, unable to talk but able to listen during his first court appearance on first-degree murder.

The Waterloo man faces a murder charge in connection to a 15-year-old girl who is related to him.

The girl died after being fatally stabbed on Thursday morning in her Chelford Crescent home in the Lincoln Heights area of Waterloo.

The man underwent surgery and was intubated. He was unconscious in the morning but able to make his court appearance on Friday afternoon.

A publication ban issued by the court prohibits the media from reporting on evidence heard during the court appearance. Another order was also issued banning printing or broadcasting the name of the victim.

The accused can not be named because publishing his name would identify the victim.

The man returns to court via a video appearance on Monday.

During the proceedings, the man nodded yes as the justice of the peace asked him if he understood the charge he was facing.

A Waterloo Regional Police officer told the justice of the peace that the man was nodding in agreement.

Also, in court was the mother of the victim.

The man was ordered not to have any contact with the mother of victim.

Police were called to a two-storey house at 152 Chelford Cres., just before 10 a.m. on Thursday for a disturbance with weapons.

Police arrived to find a girl with several stab wounds, the mother of the victim injured and the 18-year-old man with self-inflicted wounds.

The girl was taken to hospital and died.

The man was taken to a hospital outside of Waterloo Region.

Police said the victim and the accused are related and live at the same house on Chelford Crescent.

Police spokesperson Cherri Greeno said there will be a police presence in the neighbourhood near the Bluevale area off University Avenue at the Conestoga Parkway throughout the weekend.

The murder is Waterloo Region's second homicide in 2022.

Last month, a Cambridge man, 46, was shot to death in the area of Cedar Street and Briar Hill Avenue. A Cambridge teen is charged with first-degree murder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the major crime unit at 519-570-9777, ext. 8191 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Liz Monteiro is a Waterloo Region-based general assignment reporter for The Record. Reach her via email: lmonteiro@therecord.com