Police apologize for mistakes made in Rehtaeh Parsons case
Posted Oct 9, 2015 07:12:06 AM.
Last Updated Oct 9, 2015 08:35:15 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Halifax police are apologizing to the family of Rehtaeh Parsons for mistakes they said were made investigating her case before her death in 2013.
Halifax Police Chief Jean-Michel Blais and Halifax RCMP Acting Chief Superintendent Dennis Daley were responding to an independent report in to the police and prosecution’s handling of the case.
Parsons’ family alleges she was sexually assaulted at a party in November 2012, and a picture of the 15-year-old circulating on social media and her school exposed her to ridicule and cyberbullying.
She was taken off life-support and died following a attempting suicide in 2013.
Former Ontario Chief Prosecutor Murray Segal’s report found police made the right decision not laying charges in the case, citing no reasonable prospect of conviction, but criticized investigators for how long they took probing the allegations.
“The legal advice about the sexual assault allegations that did not lead to charges being laid was in the realm of reasonableness,” Segal said.
“This investigation took too long for a kid and a family in crisis.” Segal said.
The review was ordered by the then NDP government in August 2013, but was delayed until legal proceedings involving two men charged with child pornography offences in the case were finished.
Segal also notes the child pornography charges were laid after Parsons died.
Regional Police Chief Jean-Michel Blais said on Thursday the service has already moved on one of the key recommendations from Segal, which was to increase training for officers who handle sexual assault cases.
“Sexual assault investigators are no longer drawn upon to assist in serious crimes that don’t have a sexualized violence component,” Blais said. “They remain dedicated to their case load.”
Heavy workload on investigators was also pointed out by Segal as one reason why the investigation was delayed, taking one year to complete.
He also criticized police for not having a social worker from the Department of Community Services present for Parsons first interview with investigators, which later required her to be interviewed a second time.
Cyberbullying was also an issue needed to be addressed by police and the Department of Justice according to Segal, who recommended police move more quickly to investigate online complaints that could be criminal, and create a cybercrime support unit for access to a more extended expertise.
Halifax RCMP Acting Chief Superintendent Dennis Daley said officers across the province are now being better trained when it comes to cyberbullying, and the service accepts the Segal’s findings.
He apologized unreservedly for mistakes that were made in Parsons case.
“We apologize, and we remain committed to addressing the issues and recommendations so that we can continue to progress,” Daley said.
Segal also wrote the Departments of Justice and Education should look at whether provisions of the 2013 Education Act dealing with online bullying are sufficient to address a case similar to Parsons’.
If not, he says they should be amended, and it should be determined whether school officials have received enough training on the new provisions.
Crown prosecutors should also receive more training on how to respond to cases of sexual violence, and have access to more specially-trained counsel for the prosecution of Internet child exploitation cases.
Minister of Justice Diana Whalen said on Wednesday her department accepts the 17 recommendations from Segal, and agrees police should prioritize investigations involving sex assault and young people.
“It shouldn’t just get in the queue and be dealt with as an ordinary case, it should be dealt with quickly,” Whalen said.
She added the year-long investigation involving police and Parsons was simply unacceptable.
“It’s traumatic, it’s a terrible time, you have a family in crisis and they need answers quicker.”
Parsons father Glen Canning declined interview requests but responded to the report in an online blog post, where he said there’s no excuse someone as young as Rataeh to lose her faith in justice, but that is what happened.
“Hopefully today will help heal the bitterness and anger and for the first time in years, I can look ahead instead of behind.”
