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10-Year-Old Accused Killer Moved To Juvenile Court

HONESDALE — A 10-year-old boy charged with homicide in Wayne County will now be tried as a juvenile. A judge decided Monday morning that the boy’s c...
tristin kurilla

HONESDALE -- A 10-year-old boy charged with homicide in Wayne County will now be tried as a juvenile.

A judge decided Monday morning that the boy's case will be moved to juvenile court.

Tristin Kurilla, age 10, of Damascus was charged as an adult in October as required by state law for homicide cases. He's been in the Wayne County Prison ever since.

Tristin took the stand Monday as his attorney and his family argued to have him removed from the prison and treated as a juvenile.

He wasn't wearing a prison jumpsuit, but instead, jeans and sneakers. A deputy helped buckle him in as he left the Wayne County Courthouse.

He's only 10 and his future was on the line, but he was calm and confident on the stand. Tristin's attorney asked the boy what he wanted:

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Tristin was in court asking to have his case moved to juvenile court. He was charged as an adult with criminal homicide in October.

His grandfather was watching him in Damascus Township in a home he shared with 90-year-old Helen Novak. Acording to court papers, the boy got angry with Novak then beat her and choked her with a cane. Novak died later that day.

"He had known Mrs. Novak from being at his grandfather's residence in the past. I think Tristin was stunned by the nature of the harm that was done by his behavior. Again, a very impulsive act," said Kurilla's attorney Scott Bennett.

On the stand, Tristin's mother told attorneys why she took him straight to the state police:

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Tristin's attorney says the boy has been honest since then and has been remorseful. A judge ruled to move the case to juvenile court, so Tristin will not be in prison but he will be under supervision, possibly until he's 21.

Even a 10 year old can grasp what a break that is.

"I got the best hug I've had in quite a while. Tristin's very happy that the judge has given him the opportunity for treatment in the juvenile system. His family is on board. I think everybody is going to be putting together a good, solid team effort for Tristin's benefit," Bennett said.

Now that the case has been moved to juvenile court, the rest of Tristin Kurilla's case will be confidential. Attorneys cannot legally tell us what's next for Tristin, but in paperwork filed last month by Tristin's attorney, his doctors suggested a detention center in Harrisburg.

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