RCMP are recommending three Westsyde secondary students accused of brutally beating a cat to death be charged with animal cruelty.

The news came on the first full day the teens spent at the school since administrators suspended them in the spring.

If convicted the youths, who are all older than 14, could face a maximum of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine, Const. Rose Dunsmore said Wednesday.

She would not discuss details about the case, citing an ongoing investigation. Nor does she know when charges could be approved.

“It depends on the history of the youths. Whether there have been any prior incidents with the youths. There’s a lot of things to consider,” she said. To the best of her knowledge the teens don’t have a criminal record.

The RCMP launched an investigation in May after one of the students involved wrote about the killing on a Facebook page and discussions about the incident started at the school.

Tensions among the student population ran high, prompting all three to finish the year in the school district’s directed suspension program. At the time, it was unsure if the youths would return to Westsyde in the fall.

Assistant superintendent Karl deBruijn said administrators met with the students and their parents during the summer and a decision was made to let the youths continue at Westsyde.

The students must maintain good conduct and focus on their academics, he said. If the teens don’t comply, then the district will reconsider where they attend school.

“It was imperative we meet with them to get them back into school. We still have to provide schooling for these students,” he said.

DeBruijn was not aware of the RCMP decision on charges, saying police conducted an investigation separate of the school district.

He’s glad police have continued their investigation and the youths will be held accountable for their actions, he said.

Westsyde principal Sean Lamoureux said the youths have quietly fit back in at the school. As of Wednesday afternoon he had not heard one complaint about their presence from students or staff.

“It’s been really smooth,” he said. “There hasn’t been one issue that’s been brought up. I think (the situation) pretty much died over the summer.”

Lamoureux hopes the students can continue at Westsyde and the outrage felt by others doesn’t return.

jhewlett@kamloopsnews.ca