2 arrested in Rehtaeh Parsons cyberbullying case - CBC News
Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 10:46 am
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scot ... rests.html
2 arrested in Rehtaeh Parsons cyberbullying case
Cole Harbour, N.S., teen bullied after photo of alleged attack circulated online
CBC News
Posted: Aug 8, 2013 10:59 AM AT
SPECIAL REPORT | Rehtaeh Parsons N.S. cyberbullying legislation allows victims to sue
Two people have been arrested in connection with the case of Rehtaeh Parsons, the Nova Scotia girl who took her own life after being cyberbullyied.
Police arrested the pair at 8 a.m. AT at their respective homes following an investigation by the RCMP/Halifax Regional Police Criminal Investigation Division.
The ages of the two males arrested have not been released. They remain in police custody and are being questioned.
On April 7, Rehtaeh was taken off life support after attempting to take her own life a few days earlier. (Facebook)
RCMP Cpl. Scott MacRae said police can hold the pair for up to 24 hours, after that they must either be charged or released.
According to Leah Parsons, Rehtaeh's mother, four boys sexually assaulted her daughter when she was 15. The Cole Harbour, N.S., teen was then said to have been mocked by classmates, enduring relentless harassment and humiliation after a photo of the attack was circulated at school and on social media.
On April 7, Rehtaeh was taken off life support after attempting to take her own life a few days earlier.
MacRae said he does not know if the two arrested are the boys identified through cellphone pictures of the alleged assault against Rehtaeh.
The Current | How effective will the Cyber-Safety Act be?
The arrests come one day after the implementation of new, more strict legislation against cyberbullying in Nova Scotia, though MacRae said the timing of the arrests is purely coincidental.
The new legislation gives victims the ability to sue alleged cyberbullies or their parents, if those accused are minors.
Mother feels relief
Leah Parsons told CBC News that police came to her house and told her of the arrests at 8:10 a.m. AT.
She said police have told her who was arrested. She said she knows the two arrested and they are "at the heart" of the incident, but added she cannot identify them.
"I felt a little bit of relief, just to say, finally — like I hope — they keep saying they want to tell their side of the story, but they have never given a statement. The police have never spoken to them in all this time. So at least, here is your chance. Tell your side of the story," she said.
Parsons said she doesn't think there is a link between today's arrests and Wednesday's cyberbullying legislation.
"Today I am feeling better," said Parsons.
"Yesterday was good news, but again, new legislation is a good step in the right direction. We need the technology to catch up so that if there is cyberbullying ... we need to be able to access that and that seems to take months."
MacRae said the investigation is still very "fluid."
“Early on in this investigation, it surrounded the tragic death of Rehtaeh Parsons. There was talk of photographs, there was talk of sexual assault. This file now has been taking several months," he said.
The investigators have moved it forth and [it] culminated in two arrests today, and any other information, as one can appreciate of respect, we still have an ongoing investigation so we’re not going to provide any more information.”
When asked why it took so long for arrests to be made in the case, MacRae said in order to do the job right, an investigation takes time.
Halifax police and RCMP decided to reopen the case in mid-April, saying that new and credible information had been brought forward.
PM says Criminal Code refinements coming
Prime Minister Stephen Harper responded to the arrest announcement during a news conference in New Brunswick on Thursday.
“As you know this is a terrible tragedy that has touched not only the Parsons family but I think all Canadians who have become familiar with what has transpired and the kind of risk this presents to all of our children," he said.
“I just wanted to say how pleased we are that progress is being made. I hope this will provide some measure of comfort to the family members.”
Harper reiterated that the government is committed to making Criminal Code changes.
"The federal government, working with our provinces, remains committed to making refinements to enhancing our Criminal Code, strengthening the Criminal Code so that we can deal with these kinds of matters — that is a commitment we have made and one that we fully plan to move forward on," he said.
Justice Minister Peter MacKay expressed his thoughts on Twitter following news of the arrests.
“While police continue to work in search of justice, our thoughts are with Rehtaeh Parsons’ family, cyberbullying victims and their families.”