A 13-year-old accused of threatening students at a Yellowknife school said heSA国际影视传媒檇 considered carrying out a school shooting, a counsellor testified Friday.

The defendant, who canSA国际影视传媒檛 be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested and charged on March 19 following a SA国际影视传媒減otential threatSA国际影视传媒� that occurred at a city school four days earlier.

He was charged with uttering threats, which he pleaded not guilty to.

A counselor at the school took the stand Friday to recount the events of March 15. She told the court sheSA国际影视传媒檇 been meeting with the defendant on a regular basis to talk about everyday life, when a discussion took a turn that left her SA国际影视传媒渟hocked and taken aback.SA国际影视传媒�

The counselor said the youth, whoSA国际影视传媒檇 been jumpy and avoiding eye contact, became engaged and interested when the topic of firearms came up.

The youth, she testified, asked her if sheSA国际影视传媒檇 shot a gun before, and began to list what she believed were types of firearms. She said she told him she was SA国际影视传媒渁mazedSA国际影视传媒� by his knowledge of guns.

The youth, who told the counselor heSA国际影视传媒檇 often use the Internet at night due to difficulty sleeping, was asked what he did online.

The counselor testified he told her he researched school shootings, and that he asked her if one had ever happened in Canada.

Concerned with where the conversation was going, the counsellor said she asked the youth if heSA国际影视传媒檇 ever considered carrying out a school shooting. She told the court he replied SA国际影视传媒測esSA国际影视传媒� without hesitating, and reaffirmed his answer a second time after the question was repeated.

When asked what was stopping the youth from committing a shooting, she said the youth replied, SA国际影视传媒渞esources.SA国际影视传媒�

The counsellor said she then asked the accused what he would do if he did have access to gun, and that he told her heSA国际影视传媒檇 SA国际影视传媒減lay with it, take it apart and put it back together.SA国际影视传媒�

When asked who heSA国际影视传媒檇 use the weapon on at his school, the counselor testified the accused identified two students who had SA国际影视传媒渄isrespected him.SA国际影视传媒�

The witness told the court the youth never outlined a direct plan to carry out an attack and said he told her part of him didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to and that he could stop himself.

The counsellor alerted the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 principal, who arranged an emergency meeting with the youthSA国际影视传媒檚 mother. Questioned further about his earlier comments, the counsellor testified he listed another four students as people heSA国际影视传媒檇 thought of potentially harming.

The schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 principal informed the youth police would have to be notified SA国际影视传媒� a statement that didnSA国际影视传媒檛 seem to concern the accused, the counsellor testified.

The youth was detained by the next day, who took him to Stanton Territorial Hospital on the strength of the Mental Health Act. Some of the boy's electronics were seized when he was arrested days later. The 13-year-old was taken out of school and placed on house arrest.

In cross-examining the witness, the youthSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer, Peter Harte, suggested the list of guns heSA国际影视传媒檇 named in his meeting with the counsellor were references to video games, and that the term SA国际影视传媒渞esources,SA国际影视传媒� was another nod to a phrase commonly used in games involving weapons.

Harte pressed the witness on whether or not she had prodded the youth into speaking about carrying out a shooting. The counsellor said she wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 going to let the school shooting comment go without pursuing it further and that she was simply concerned for the youthSA国际影视传媒檚 mental health.

After the counselorSA国际影视传媒檚 recollection of events was supported by another counselor who was in the room with the youth when the comments were made, the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 principal took the stand Friday.

The principal testified the youth has sent back to class following the emergency meeting with his mother.

Making his closing submissions Friday, Harte argued the Crown was asking the court to SA国际影视传媒渃onvict someone for how they felt, not what they wanted to do.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淐anada is not yet a place where we have thought police,SA国际影视传媒� said Harte. SA国际影视传媒淭o convict someone for being honest with a counselor is extremely problematic,SA国际影视传媒� he said, submitting the youthSA国际影视传媒檚 comments did not constitute a direct threat.

Following a court appearance Monday, the boy was released from house arrest but is now subject to a curfew. He's still barred from contacting the six students, and from returning to school.

Judge Christine Gagnon will make her decision on July 23.