The lawyer for the 12-year-old boy from Dorval accused in the death of his 16-year-old brother entered a not guilty plea to the charges of manslaughter with a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon.

"Obviously because he's charged with manslaughter, it's not an accident," said Crown Prosecutor Marie-Claude Bourassa. "The evidence doesn't show it's an accident." 

"We just study the evidence and charge as the evidence leads us, and in this case, the evidence leads us to these very serious charges," she said.

The 12-year-old, wearing a turquoise hoodie and dark track pants showed little emotion during the brief hearing — but his mother was clearly distraught, as was his father and several other relatives who were in the courtroom.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is three years in a youth detention centre.

The crown is objecting to release on bail.

They're back in court Friday to schedule a bail hearing.

Police spokesman Simon Delorme says the 12-year-old was arrested at the family home Monday evening and questioned by investigators overnight, until 5:30 a.m.

He says the boy was accompanied by a parent during the interrogation.

Delorme says the teenager was shot in the upper body by a handgun that police believe could belong to the family.

Neighbours told CJAD news they were shocked and saddened by the news.

Photo: Laura Casella (CJAD)
With files from the Canadian Press