Review says Crown decision in Rehtaeh Parsons’ case was reasonable
Posted Oct 8, 2015 09:19:56 AM.
Last Updated Oct 8, 2015 04:45:31 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – A review into the handling of the Rehtaeh Parsons case by the RCMP and Nova Scotia’s Public Prosecution Service says it was reasonable of the Crown to conclude there was no realistic prospect that sexual assault charges would result in conviction.
The provincial government ordered the review by Murray Segal, a former Ontario chief prosecutor, in August 2013 but it was delayed until legal proceedings involving two men charged in the case concluded.
The full report is available here.
The young woman’s family alleged she was sexually assaulted in November 2011 when she was 15 and bullied after a digital photo of the alleged assault was passed around her school.
Parsons was taken off life-support after attempting suicide in 2013.
Police said they looked into the allegations of sexual assault and an inappropriate photo, but concluded there weren’t enough grounds to lay charges after consulting with the prosecution service.
They apologized Thursday afternoon for mistakes they made in investigating the case.
Acting Chief Superintendent Dennis Daley of the RCMP says they have made changes to address those shortcomings.
The child pornography charges were laid after Parsons died.
