Citynow Girls swarmed, robbed fellow teen of Jordan runners

CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow com

A 21-year-old woman has been sentenced for her part in a swarming attack at a Burnaby park three years ago that saw a 17-year-old girl knocked to the ground, stomped on the head and robbed of her Jordan sneakers.

BellaYahia was found guilty in January of one count of assault causing bodily harm

The charge relates to an incident at Avondale Park near Burnaby Hospital in the early morning hours of June 26, 2020, according to a recent B C Supreme Court ruling by Justice Bruce Elwood.

Yahia, who was 18 years old at the time, had been with a group of other teens

“hanging out, drinking and wandering about” until five girls and two boys found their way to the park at about 2 a.m., the ruling said.

At the park, one of the girls took the victim’s phone.

“When (the victim) approached the girl who had taken her phone, that person pulled a knife and issued a veiled threat to (the victim),” the ruling said.

“(The victim) began running and the group ran after her. Following a brief chase, a group of four girls grabbed (the victim) by her clothing, hit her, pulled her hair, and forced her to the ground Once she was on the ground, the group kicked (the victim), smashed her face into the pavement and stomped on her head. One of the girls cut (the victim) with a knife Another one sat on her and threatened her that the beating would not stop until she gave up her shoes ”

Neither of the two boys participated in the attack, according to the ruling, and one said “Stop, that’s enough ”

After the girls let the victim go, she ran barefoot to the nearest house for help

She was taken to hospital and needed six or seven stitches to close a gash on her head, according to the ruling

She also suffered scratches, abrasions and bruises on her face, neck, arms, legs and hand, as well as superficial knife wounds to her neck, wrist and side.

Charges of robbery and assault causing bodily harm were first approved againstYahia in May 2021

A person under the age of 18 was also charged, according to Burnaby RCMP.

At trial, evidence against Yahia came down to her testimony against the victim’s, according to Elwood

Yahia testified she had been separated from the other girls before the chase started and wasn’t there when the victim was assaulted