A 19-year-old North Vancouver man accused of killing his mother in her apartment last month should be released with support from the community, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Alex Lefkove, who spent years in government care and has fetal alcohol syndrome, appeared at a hearing in provincial court, where the defence told CTV News he could be let out on bail with conditions.
“Due to the nature of the allegations – it’s a very unique and tragic circumstance we have right now – I think the possibility of reoffending based on what he is charged with is quite low,” Lefkove’s lawyer Hollis Lucky said.
The young man’s mother, 58-year-old Christine Grube Lefkove, was found suffering critical injuries the evening of Jan. 25 after police received a report of a dispute and possible assault at her home. She died in hospital the next day.
Officers said they arrested her son at the scene after seeing him try to flee over his mother’s balcony.
Friends of Lefkove’s mother told CTV News she cared deeply for him, and desperately wanted the two of them to have a relationship.
“She really did her best,” Brenda Bolton said. “She’s in heaven saying, ‘I still love my son.’”
The friends said they hope to see the accused remain in custody. The judge is expected to deliver a decision on bail Wednesday.
Lefkove is charged with one count of manslaughter.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Mi-Jung Lee
