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10-Year-Old Murder Suspect’s Case In Court

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP — A 10-year-old murder suspect was in court Wednesday to face the charges against him. State police brought the boy from jail to d...
tristin kurilla

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP -- A 10-year-old murder suspect was in court Wednesday to face the charges against him.

State police brought the boy from jail to district court to face a charge of homicide for allegedly killing an elderly woman last month.

The age of the suspect makes this case so unusual and perhaps so hard to understand.

Tristin Kurilla has been an inmate at the Wayne County Correctional Facility for more than a month.

Kurilla's family was with him in court. His mother in particular was sobbing, seeing her 10-year-old son facing a charge of homicide and for now, as an adult.

It's something seldom seen before: a child, 10-year-old Tristin Kurilla charged with homicide, accused of the beating death of an elderly woman at his grandfather's home near Honesdale last month.

The victim was 90-year-old Helen Novak.

Kurilla gave up his right to a hearing on the evidence meaning the case goes onto county court.

The fifth grader's public defender says now the process of trying to have Kurilla's case moved to juvenile court can begin.

"There's no real question about what happened here. What we're looking to do, what everyone's looking to do, is to make sure Tristin gets the help he needs," said public defender Scott Bennett.

Both prosecutors and the defense will now have mental health experts evaluate Tristin Kurilla, and based on those findings argue in court whether Kurilla should be treated as an adult or juvenile, but there's no timetable for that yet.

"Way too early, we have to wait until we get all the reports before we can make any decisions at this time," said Deputy Attorney General Michele Kluk.

The boy's attorney also says everyone is trying to find an alternative to county prison where Kurilla is being kept separate from the other inmates

So far, Scott Bennett says prison officials had to contact him once when his client was having a difficult time.

"When I met with Tristin, he said 'I miss my mom.' I gave him a hug and he was ok, back on track."

Kurilla's signature was a simple Tristin on court papers.

While there's no guarantee the homicide will go to juvenile court, his attorney is ready to make the case for that.

"We have a very young child who acted out on an impulse. Now we have to identify what help this child needs and make sure receives that assistance."

Tristin Kurilla is due back in court early next month but court officials do not expect any hearings on the case to take place before the holidays.

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