Halifax child porn victim’s father wanted in-person apology from accused
Posted Nov 14, 2014 06:09:31 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The father of the victim in a complex child pornography case that’s sparked national debate is speaking out after a Halifax judge handed the 20-year-old accused a 12-month conditional discharge.
The father told Global News he agrees with the judge’s decision, but said he wishes he got a face-to-face apology from the accused.
“I think it’s unfortunate when he had an opportunity to look at us and say ‘I’m sorry,’ he never did that,” he said. “It’s sad that someone would say ‘I’m remorseful’ but they’d have to actually have a court order to say it on paper and send it away to somebody. He should have said it right there, it would’ve meant a lot to us if he did.”
One of the judge’s orders is for the defendant to write a letter of apology to the victim’s parents, as well as providing a DNA sample to the national database.
During the hearing in Halifax Youth Court yesterday, he chose to stay silent.
The accused pleaded guilty to making child pornography after he took a photo of then then-15-year-old victim having sex, almost exactly three years ago in 2011.
The photo circulated, and the mother of the victim said during her impact statement it “ruined my daughter’s life.”
The 17-year-old was taken off life support last year following a suicide attempt, after what her parents said was months of bullying.
