Youth accused in killing of Calgary teen appear in court

Carter Spivak-Villeneuve, 16, was found dead in a park in the southeast Calgary community of Abbeydale on Aug. 1, 2025. (Supplied)

Four teens charged in the death of a 16-year-old Calgary boy made a brief court appearance on Tuesday.

The accused – a 16-year-old boy and three 15-year-olds – each face a first-degree murder charge in connection with the killing of Carter Spivak-Villeneuve.

None of them can be named due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

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Spivak-Villeneuve was found dead in a greenspace in the 300 block of Abbeydale Drive N.E. at 1:20 a.m. on Aug. 1, 2025.

Police say the victim and accused were known to one another and his death was the culmination of an ongoing dispute.

“The loss of Carter is a devastating reminder of how (a) seemingly insignificant conflict between youth can escalate with irreversible consequences,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Gregson with the Calgary Police Service’s homicide unit following the youths’ arrest in November.

“Carter’s death was senseless and the lives of everyone involved have now been forever changed.”

• Fourth youth charged in death of 16-year-old Calgary boy
• ‘Devastated by the loss’: Family of Abbeydale homicide victim speaks out

Three of the suspects appeared in court on Tuesday via CCTV while a fourth appeared in-person.

Family members of the victim, who did not speak with CTV News, were also in the courtroom for the hearing.

They could be seen shouting and gesturing toward the accused, and those emotions spilled over into the lobby, where several family members continued shouting.

Following the brief hearing, the matter was adjourned to Jan. 16 for an initial disclosure.