Justin Morton, 20, did not object to the transfer during a brief court appearance Thursday. It was agreed he would go directly to Millhaven, a maximum security prison, but not be processed as a typical adult offender sent to prison for murder.

Instead, his stay in maximum security will be shortened from the usual two years and he will not spend any time in Millhaven's infamous "J Unit" where the worst offenders usually wind up. Instead, he will be held in an assessment area, and transferred to a medium security prison as soon as possible.

That decision was made because of the time he has already spent in detention, and because of the results of assessments done on him, court heard.

Morton was sentenced to life under the Youth Criminal Justice Act- the first person in Canada charged with first-degree murder under the act. He killed on the day the act took effect- and is eligible for day parole this month. He is eligible for full parole in 1 1/2 years.

Morton used his own belt to choke to death classmate Eric Levack, 14, in the middle of the day in a wooded area near their Heart Lake Secondary School on April 1, 2003.

Morton flashed his mother a quick, subdued smile when he first entered the courtroom, but spent the rest of the time slouched forward in the prison's box, head hung. Wearing a loose sweatshirt, and sporting glasses, a scruffy chin beard and curly hair, he spoke briefly to his lawyer.

Mr. Justice James Blacklock asked Morton's parents if they had anything to say about the transfer, but they declined.

The courtroom- which was filled with Eric Levack's family- went silent when Morton was ushered in by court security officers.

Wearing buttons with her son's picture on them, and a T-shirt reading, "Adult Crime. Adult Time", Debbie Levack waved at Morton as he was led out following the decision.

"I'm feeling great. They're putting him in a car and taking him to Millhaven," Levack said outside the courthouse, adding that she thinks he should have been transferred to adult prison two years ago when he turned 18.

But seeing Morton again after so many years made her "sick to my stomach," Levack said after court appearances a few months ago. And the Levacks say this isn't the end of it for them.

"For the rest of our lives, every time that kid wants to get out of jail, we're there," Debbie Levack said. "Every step of the way, I'll try and stop him. Every step of the way."