National Post author defends controversial Rehtaeh Parsons article
Posted Apr 27, 2013 08:38:13 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A recent National Post article isn’t sitting well with Rehtaeh Parsons’ parents, but the author is standing her ground.
The story cites weaknesses in the case against boys Rehtaeh’s family says sexually assaulted the teen. Parsons’ family alleges she was sexually assaulted by four boys in 2011 and that a digital photograph of the incident was shared around her school. Citing information from unidentified sources close to the investigation, the report says Parsons initially told police varying versions of the story.
The report is titled, ‘New details in Rehtaeh Parsons case show why police didn’t lay charges.’
“I don’t write the headlines,” said the author, Christie Blatchford. “I would not have written that particular headline on it. I don’t say they won’t face charges, what I’m trying to explain is why they haven’t yet faced charges. This was a complicated case, which prosecutors took very seriously, it involved a long police investigation… I don’t think anybody just blew it off.”
Rehtaeh’s mother Leah writes this on her Angel Rehtaeh Facebook page: “All I can say is WOW… you sure have a twisted version don’t you. This article clearly highlights the “slut shaming” going on in our country and the abuse that Rehtaeh felt over and over for the past 18 months.”
Rehtaeh’s father, Glenn Canning, says the Criminal Code “states pretty clearly that what happened … is called rape,” because the girl was intoxicated at the time.
“With great respect, I’d say he’s not a police officer,” says Blatchford. “He’s not a trained investigator, he’s not familiar with the test that the courts apply.”
Blatchford says she wasn’t attacking Rehteah or her family with the article, but wanted to have an informed discussion.
