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Canada  

Child in hospital after beating

A 21-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping in an attack on a six-year-old girl on a reserve west of Edmonton.

According to CBC, the girl was tobogganing with others Saturday afternoon on the Paul First Nation. She left the group after being told to go home and change into dry clothes.  The girl was attacked and brutally beaten. Family members found her in the snow, naked and suffering from hypothermia. One relative told CBC Edmonton the little girl was so badly beaten that family members didn't initially recognize her.

RCMP say James Clifford Paul was arrested not far from where attack happened on the Paul Band First Nation thanks to tips from the public.

Supt. Gary Steinke say the girl remains in hospital in Edmonton where she is in serious but stable condition.

She has yet to regain consciousness since the attack.

The Paul First Nation sent out a message to media on behalf of the family asking for privacy. 

"We trust the family’s wishes will be fully respected so they can focus all of their energy, attention and prayers on the victim’s immediate well-being and what we are all hoping and praying will be a speedy and full recovery."

Police say the girl knew the suspect, but are not elaborating on that relationship.

~With files from The Canadian Press 



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