Teen to be tried as adult in brick attack on Temple student

PHILADELPHIA--A 15-year-old girl will stand trial as an adult for her alleged role in the March beating with a brick of a Temple University student, reports the Philadelphia Daily News.

Common Pleas Judge Benjamin Lerner said in his ruling that Zaria Estes' alleged use of a brick to bash the victim's mouth and face was "determined" and "vicious."

Two other girls involved in the attack, Najee Bilaal, 15, and Kanesha Gainey, 16, will plead guilty to several charges in Family Court, and will be placed in a juvenile treatment facility.

But Lerner said Estes' charges are too serious.

"As horrible, as disgraceful, as disgusting was the conduct of those other girls, when you pick up a deadly weapon, when you add that element," Lerner said of the brick, "that's a whole different ballgame in my view than what those other girls were doing."

The trio of defendants allegedly set out to attack random victims on March 21, when they came across victim Abbey Luffey and her boyfriend Andrew Mazer.

Lerner said photos of Luffey's teeth and face, made it clear "how hard, how determined and how vicious this assault was," the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

Luffey told the court she had emergency surgery to repair her face and teeth, and fear of walking around campus led her to move back home.

"One act by a group of strangers has consumed my life," she said.