A 16-year-old Halifax girl will spend a year in a youth jail for bullying another teen who later killed himself.

Emmet Fralick, 14, shot himself at his Halifax home last April. The Grade 9 student left a suicide note saying he couldn't take any more bullying.

The girl charged in his death, whose name cannot be released, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of extortion, assault and threatening bodily harm.

The incidents took place near St. Agnes School in Halifax in early 2002.

The victim's mother said she considered the sentence too light.

"I don't agree with it - I think it was a slap on the wrist," said Lois Fralick, who chose not to attend the hearing.

"The only good thing...is that Emmet's friends won't have to testify. It gets her off the street for a year, I guess."

The girl threatened Fralick with physical harm unless he gave her money and stole for her, said Crown attorney Gary Holt.

She also pleaded guilty to three other charges in relation to another bullying case against a female classmate. Justice Leslie Dellapinna said the time the girl has spent detained at the Shelburne Youth Centre since July would be considered punishment for those charges.

Dellapinna said he didn't know whether the girl's actions led to Fralick's suicide, but that her age and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder were no excuse.

"I can't find the words that would appropriately indicate the court's thoughts on your behaviour toward Mr. Emmet Fralick," he said.

The crown and defence jointly recommended a one-year sentence in youth jail for the girl. Once free, she will spend a year on probation.

She'll also undergo counselling and must stay away from witnesses who testified against her.

The girl has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for assault, robbery, theft, as well as property offences.

In addition, she was recently cleared of another robbery charge and another extortion charge.

The girl claims to have changed her ways, renouncing former gang ties.

She sat stony faced through the hearing, but appeared to wave to her parents, seated in the public gallery, as sheriff's officers led her from the courtroom.

Holt said the girl expressed no remorse for any of her actions. He said he hoped the sentence serves to deter other youths from committing similar crimes.

Fralick's death stunned students and administrators at the west-end Halifax junior high and revealed a growing concern among parents about the torment their children endure.

Fralick's parents have spoken out about bullying since their son's suicide, urging other parents to be involved in their children's lives.

Responding to the case, the Halifax regional school board set up a committee last month to gather community input on violence in schools.

Board chairman Michael Flemming said the sentence sends the right message, but won't put an end to bullying.

"We as a school board have to create a climate where this kind of behavior is not going to be tolerated," he said. "We have to do everything in our power to ensure every kid feels safe in school."

With a report from The Canadian Press.