© CBC NewsThe blaze at the Canada Games Centre in Whitehorse in June 2011 destroyed much of the wall in the back of the centre's Olympic-sized ice arena and caused smoke, soot and water damage throughout the facility.
Malcolm Campbell, the 12-year-old girl's lawyer, said at her sentencing hearing Thursday that prosecutors have blown the case out of proportion, and a stern warning or reprimand from a judge would have sufficed for his client.
The 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl both pleaded guilty last fall to charges of arson in relation to the fire which caused $7 million in damage to the sports facility. The girls cannot be named under the terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Campbell's client had just turned 12 last June when she was out on a Friday night with friends. They engaged in "horseplay" with lighters and set some speed skating mats on fire.
The girls ran past three fire alarms on the way out of the centre and never alerted anyone to the blaze. When questioned by police, they suggested an older, aboriginal person was responsible.
In February, the older girl was sentenced to two years probation and 240 hours of community service. She was also ordered to stay away from the Canada Games Centre and was banned from having a cell phone, a lighter or matches.
Crown lawyers are asking that the 12-year-old girl be sentenced to exactly the same conditions her accomplice received.
Campbell argued two years probation and terms like being banned from the Canada Games Centre and restricted cell phone use are too harsh for his client.
Campbell said he thinks the 13-year-old accomplice should bear more responsibility because of her age.
The 12-year-old girl said she has already lost a lot of friends over the incident, and told the court she's painfully aware of the public animosity towards her.
Judge Michael Cozens told the girl she made a mistake, and need not wear it like a ball and chain the rest of her life.
He has scheduled sentencing for Thursday.
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