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The government of Nova Scotia has released the independent review of the Rehtaeh Parsons case and says it will take additional action to strengthen procedures to help victims.
The review found that the system failed to protect the 17-year-old from sexual assault and cyberbullying. Justice Minister Diana Whalen presented the independent review, which looked at the actions of police and the public prosecution service in response to her case.
The report was done by former chief prosecutor and deputy attorney general of Ontario, Murray Segal. Parsons reportedly faced sexual humiliation and bullying and attempted to commit suicide by hanging herself on April 4th, 2013. She ended up in a coma and her life support machine was turned off on April 7th, 2013. Her death has been attributed to the online distribution of photos of an alleged gang rape that occurred 17 months prior. The family went to the RCMP regarding the alleged rape, but authorities said there was insufficient evidence to lay charges.
Segal was asked to look specifically at the Rehtaeh Parsons case and whether the systems, policies, and procedures related to cyberbullying, child pornography and sexual assault were followed and adequate. He was also asked to look at whether the time it took to conduct the police investigation was appropriate, whether advice offered by the Crown was appropriate, and if it followed the policies and guidelines of the Public Prosecution Service.
Segal found that the initial investigation into Parsons’ complaint was mishandled as she was not interviewed properly, which “had an avoidable negative impact on Rehtaeh.” He also found that the investigation, which took a year, was unacceptable and should have been completed sooner. She did not receive support and assistance a young person in crisis required, according to the report. Ultimately no charges were laid in the investigation, but subsequently child pornography charges were laid against two boys after her death.
“The Crown’s advice related to the child pornography offences was incorrect. It reflected a misunderstanding of the law as it relates to child pornography,” said Segal in the report. “Following Rehtaeh's death, the Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) reviewed the file. It concluded that child pornography charges could have been laid at the conclusion of the initial investigation.”
The report makes 17 recommendations for government, police, and the Public Prosecution Service. They include improvements to policies and procedures and actions relating to cyberbullying, sexual violence, investigations, prosecutions, and roles authorities play.
To read the full report, visit www.novascotia.ca/segalreport .
Parsons’ father Glen Canning shared this message on his website regarding to outcome of the report:
“At the end of the day our daughter lost her faith in justice. There is no excuse for someone so young to lose faith like that.
Nothing can bring her back and all I can wish for now is that her death was not in vain.
We all make mistakes, we all hurt, and we all wish for something better to come from our pain.
I’m tired of fighting. Hopefully today will help heal the bitterness and anger and for the first time in years I can look ahead instead of behind.
My daughter was innocent.
Today is her day.
Tomorrow holds the promise of something better.”
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