During the sentencing hearing, the courtroom was packed with reporters tweeting Rehtaeh's name. One of the three boys, who was a friend of Parsons, was stabbed and treated for a "non-life-threatening injury". Today, Rehtaeh's mother Leah Parsons said she was relieved the ban was lifted. When I was 15 years old, I went to a party with my Friend. Victims also can seek a protection order that could place restrictions on or help identify the cyberbully. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. "[2] The blog of Rehtaeh's father, Glen Canning, also went viral. The consequences of these actions are severe. And able to make decisions about their bodies. The saga of 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons, the Nova Scotia teen who took her own life in early April, continues. The photo shows Parsons and the 17-year-old both naked from the waist down, with him pressed against her. It has been sent. This has never been about solely highlighting the alleged abusers. [20], The Parsons case also prompted an external inquiry into the conduct of the Crown Prosecutor's office. Rehtaehs family took her off life support on Sunday, April 7. . These images are reaffirming. These screenshots contain blurred-out names of the alleged attackers. Wait a sec. We must understand what is at stake when these images go viral, whether they were taken by the women themselves or their lovers, but especially when the women arenot consentingto what is taking place in these pictures or videos. We believe it's in the public interest in this unique case, given the widespread recognition of [her] name, and given the good that can come, and has already come, from free public debate over sexual consent and the other elements of her story." Regardless of whether they were willing participants in these images or victims of sexual assault, they are shamed. A vicious campaign of cyber bullying ensues that drives an innocent girl to take desperate action. [19] Among the 13 recommendations[20] made by the authors were: The report traced Parson's history through the school system. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Two Anonymous protesters and Ivan Herritt at the Nova Scotia courthouse. The end of this story could have been quite different. Education Minister Karen Casey said one week after the report's release that "each of the provinces school boards has its own protocol when it comes to dealing with police investigations on school property."[24]. The pre-sentence report says the man cried when he learned Parsons had been taken off a life-support machine after she slipped into a coma due to a suicide attempt. Rehtaeh Parsons had her life support machine switched off after she attempted suicide following bullying over an explicit image taken against her will (Creative Commons) A man has walked free. But there is a problem with how we stigmatize nudity, especially that of young women. Only a year later, the police concluded their investigation stating that there was insufficient evidence despite a viral photograph of Rehtaeh with her rapists. The sentencing hearing was held Thursday morning in Halifax in provincial court. [5], After her suicide, posters appeared locally in support of the boys who allegedly attacked Parsons. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Only one other person was convicted in the case, a 17-year-old. Secondly, All the bullying and messaging and harassment that never let up are also to blame. According to Rehtaeh's mother, Leah, the Nova Scotia-based teenager had attended a party two years earlier where she had got drunk and been raped. ", "She didn't get to see any of those goals listed and she never will," Leah added. The photo was taken like it was a typical Facebook photo, just some kids having fun. How and why is she being sentenced? You can read our previous coverage of the court case here and here. The underlying reasons for it - the drugs, the sex, the bullying, whatever she might've had going on before the party in question - are much larger than any one individual. The report said the Parsons family faced challenges when they turned to Nova Scotia's mental health system for help. Parsons died in April after a suicide attempt at the age of 17. The episode, The Girl in the Photo, was released yesterday in the United States and, going by the comments, emails, and Facebook posts Im receiving, it made quite an impact. I had bruises on the insides of my thighs and my entire pelvic area. A source spoke to the Daily Dot on condition of (extra) anonymity. The heart of the problem lies in the fact that there is nothing inherently shameful about the naked human body. Rehtaehs story is well documented in the media. You need to have a number of people holding [the government] to account and seeing what's actually done", said Dalhousie law professor Wayne MacKay. The man, 20, who remains anonymous under Canadian law as he was 17 at the time, is the second person convicted of distributing child pornography charges after spreading a photo via text message of Rehtaeh Parsons, who committed suicide in April 2013 after being tormented by those who viewed the image. The boy I was set up with raped me. [34], On April 26, 2013, Christie Blatchford wrote in the National Post that a problem in the case was that one of Parsons' friends claimed Parsons was "flirtatious" on the night the photo was taken, was seen laughing in bed with two boys and also there were "accounts from Rehtaeh herself and independent evidence, including retrieved online messages, that supported the suggestion the sex that took place was consensual." Leah Parsons said she planned to meet with Segal as soon as he's back in town. Police initially concluded there were no grounds to charge anyone after a yearlong investigation. "[24] Segal found that it was "important that either police or school authorities" speak to the students. I went back to my friends house to sleep over after this with her and told her what happened. The girl's identity was protected by a statutory publication ban but her parents pushed to have her name released, saying they wanted her story and her name to be shared widely. Rehtaehs former school, Cole Harbour District Highschool, did not support or even acknowledge her when she needed them the most. [30] Leah Parsons had called for the case to be settled legally rather than by vigilantes. No, you would not know these things because you never took the time to view her as a person. (The Parsons family has pushed for Rehtaeh's name to be published and her story to be told. Rehtaeh, 17, was taken off life-support in April 2013 following a suicide attempt after the explicit photo of her was circulated amongst her peers in Cole Harbour, N.S. Instead, the police called it a "he said, she said" case and also decided the photo was not criminal, in spite of Parsons being a minor. Find high-quality stock photos that you won't find anywhere else. Do not hesitate to message the mods if you experience any issues! Only a year later, the police concluded their investigation stating that there was insufficient evidence despite a viral photograph of Rehtaeh with her rapists. Just as rape and sex have nothing to do with each other, pictures shared with and without consent are completely different things.. "That kid pled guilty to having sex with her while she was vomiting out a window," he said. Im grateful to everyone for all of your support, thoughts, and the prayers youve sent us. Fed up with the abuse that continues on and offline against a dead rape victim and her family, hacker collective Anonymous decided the law wasnt working fast enough. Rehtaeh Parsons was a gifted teenager with boundless curiosity and a love for family, science, and the natural world. The girl in the photo, Rehtaeh Parsons, faced vicious slut-shaming and harassment as a result of the photo. Nobody expects them to shout from the rooftops. We are in essence doing what the RCMP should have done themselves, investigate the circumstance thoroughly. I amsimply stating that all women should have the ability to make these decisions:when and who they want to have sex with, and whether or not they want to share nude photographs of themselves. How could the police press no charges in a case where obvious child pornography spread virally across an entire high school? I thought she died. "Where's the consent? Neither was given any jail time. Sign-up to get the latest news and update information. She would be haunted by that photograph and what it meant until her last breath. [24] Segal continued: "Some work has also been done to clarify how schools and police interact, (but) we were informed that there is a lot of mystique around police investigations from the schools perspective: school authorities are loath to act when they are aware of an active criminal investigation, because they do not want to influence the evidence or prejudice the investigation." At the time of the incident, the parents were with different partners but equally involved with her upbringing. Segal made it clear that Parsons' complaint of sexual assault and cyberbullying was mishandled, and as early as one day later there were calls to implement his recommendations. Search instead for rethaeh parsons? That was very debilitating. Lorraine Murphy is an Ottawa-based cybersecurity journalist and founding editor of the Cryptosphere. He was bullied as a result of the photo, his lawyer told the court. Everybody has a right to know, in all honesty, even a young offender. Leah Parsons added in an interview with Nova Scotias Chronicle Herald: People texted her all the time, saying Will you have sex with me? Girls texting, saying Youre such a slut.. In September 2014, one of the boys, by then 20, pleaded guilty to a charge of making child pornography in relation to the photo of Parsons. An independent review released in June concluded the Halifax regional school board could have done a better job but was hindered by the fact that Rehtaeh was often absent from class. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. The 17-year old student from Cole Harbour, N.S., committed suicide after four boys sexually asssaulted her and then distributed photos of the. She loved animals. 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 . In a memorial gallery the Parsons family posted to YouTube, you can see Rehtaeh holding her newborn sister in her arms, her mother smiling in the background. The second person convicted in the Rehtaeh Parsons child pornography case in Nova Scotia has been sentenced to 12 months probation. Until recently, Parsons's name was the subject of a publication ban as she was underage when the photo was taken, and thus it qualified as child pornography. The Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. Staseys project is a positive move towards de-stigmatizing the nude female form. In July 2010, there was a reaction to the use of one of Anonymous' slogans by the Oregon Tea Party. It spread like wildfire and she was cruelly mocked. Noting that her name and photo had been widely disseminated prior to the trial, both the victim's parents and the trial's judge objected to the ban. Once her peers heard the male's version of what happened that evening, Rehtaeh became known as a "slut". Another was about taking away their ability to make decisions. The charges against both men are disgusting. She got drunk, and while vomiting out of a window, she was allegedly raped while other people took photographs. We are highlighting the actions, both off and online, of 19 individuals in Rehtaehs broader community. "You should have been crying when she was alive," the judge told him. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. [8], A year following the alleged rape, the RCMP concluded an investigation stating, "[an] investigation into an earlier sexual assault was completed, and in consultation with the Crown, there was insufficient evidence to lay charges". 35 Rehtaeh Parsons Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 35 Rehtaeh Parsons Premium High Res Photos Browse 35 rehtaeh parsons stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Consent is key. Following the suicide, Rehtaeh Parsons's mother, Leah Parsons, went public with the story and started a memorial Facebook page[7] called "Angel Rehtaeh. She described how damag-ing her experience and the dissemina-tion of the photo were. Other photos offer a further glimpse into her life. During his sentencing, as the National Post's Christie Blatchford notes, the teen said that Parsons' eventual death had nothing to do with his actions, telling the court, "I will not live with the guilt of someone passing away, but I will live with the guilt of sending the picture." In a heartbreaking victim impact statement delivered during his Thursday sentencing, Rehtaeh's mother Leah told the teennow a manhow much she'd lost with her daughter's death, and chided him for not bothering to learn what a beautiful and generous person she was: I know that Rehtaeh did nothing to deserve that type of treatment. Our Angel, born December 9th, 1995. and Tragically passed away on April 7th, 2013 He said the photo was a "gross violation of the personal integrity of Ms. Parsons" and that the man had showed "utter contempt for Ms. Parsons," saying she was "no more than a . Rehtaeh's case also sparked an online campaign for justice involving the hacktivist group Anonymous. Between those two extremes of extraordinary violence, Rehtaeh lived as a perpetual victimof her rapists, who took a photograph of that night and made sure it spread virally among her classmates, and the Canadian Mounted Police, who never filed a single charge in the case., UPDATE: How schools and police failed Rehtaeh Parsons. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The teen's family said she was tormented for months after a digital photo of the alleged November, 2011 gang rape was circulated around her school. The Chronicle Herald became the subject of investigation for its actions following complaints by police, although other media outlets have been investigated in Halifax for violating the ban but have not been subject to any charges. I am not suggesting that this is a route for all victims of sexual assaultto take. [18] The authors received more than 150 submissions from the general public,[18] but curiously failed to interview Parson's friends or her teachers. And of course, theres backlash. Skr8 this wom didint get raped called it rap when everyone found out about I got the boys 100% if this gose to court Ill be there to fuck it up. Facebook. Rehtaeh's death has been compared to similar cases in the United States, including 15-year-old California girl Audrie Pott, who hanged herself after her family says she was sexually assaulted by friends and a photo surfaced online. [14] With a conditional discharge, his criminal record will not show a conviction in this case, unless he breaches the terms of his probation. He's made mistakes. Where's the rape charge? Judge Gregory Lenehan said Parsons, who was 17 at the time of her death, did not know the photo was being taken and did not give consent for it to be shared. The 20-year-old, whose case was made famous thanks to an Anonymous campaign, will be getting 12 months probation. [18][19][20] The provincial government of Darrell Dexter requested the report, which is entitled "External Review of the Halifax Regional School Boards Support of Rehtaeh Parsons". Her . "She's dead now. [6] The teenagers were drinking vodka at a small party. She later locked herself in a bathroom and attempted suicide. "I just want to say how pleased we are that progress has been made. Also in November 2014, the second person charged, then 19, pleaded guilty to a charge of distributing child pornography, in relation to the photo of himself and Parsons. [22][23][24][25] The report was delayed until legal proceedings involving two men charged with child pornography offences in the case concluded. Despite the fact that some people have criticized her decision. These consensual images progress a move away from a society. I'm proud of Anonymous for doing what they did.". There was shots and just being a 15 year old that wanted to be liked and cool I drank. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigated the case, but found insufficient evidence to press chargesdespite photographic evidence of the crime. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Did you know she had two little sisters that she adored? Legend: TikToker parodied pharmaceutical company and said it was lowering the price of insulinthe company actually did it, The Mandalorian season 3 brings it back to basics, The Mandalorian finally explains what happened to Cara Dune after Gina Caranos firing, Finally my coffee will be right: Customer makes her own coffee order at self-serve Dunkin Express, *First Published: Apr 9, 2013, 5:04 pm CDT. [8] The story drew international attention and sparked outrage on the Internet, with CBC reporting the phrase "Nova Scotia" was "trending on Twitter worldwide. A vicious campaign of cyber bullying ensues that drives an innocent girl to take desperate action. He said he would like to apologize to her parents through his lawyer. Now that the court case is over, former Ontario chief prosecutor Murray Segal is free to conduct his independent review of how police handled Rehtaeh's case. [29] In its news release, Anonymous blamed the death on "school teachers, administrators, the police and prosecutors, those who should have been role models in the late Rehtaeh's life. And now he's not a young offender, so everyone should know who he is. Im Jasmine. Parsons was hanging out a window after having just vomited, being penetrated, when the photo was taken without her knowledge or consent. said Parsons was drinking at a house party with the two other teens in November, 2011, when one of the . "I am truly sorry. [6] The teenagers were drinking vodka at a small party. The two boys who had sex with her, both 16, passed the photo to several friends. Thank you for sharing and thank you for staying strong for Rehtaeh spreading the word on cyber bullying, getting laws changed, providing resources for the sexually abused, and much much more. Web of Lies - After a teenage house party spirals out of control, a shocking photo goes viral around the local schools. She had also written, "I am very much looking forward to the rest of High School. "You lit the wildfire, so to speak, and it got completely out of control," judge Lenehan said to the man who appeared in the photo. Rape and revenge porn is about power. The teen in the photo was sentenced Thursday to one year of probation and ordered not to drink alcohol. He insists the sex was consensual and that he didn't 'bully' Rehtaeh, while his parents defend him as a good kid "who's made some mistakes.". "I was unable to console her as she crumbled emotionally after that photo was taken. In November, Lenehan handed a second young man, who snapped the photo, a conditional discharge. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The Rehtaeh Parsons' case has aired on the Investigation Discovery television program Web of Lies and her parents Glen Canning and Leah Parsons are speaking out about the program and their daughter's case. Nor that her mother, Leah Parsons, would meet Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, to create a Crime Victims Bill of Rights. This attempt was apparently thwarted by school authorities. I didnt tell him or anyone what happened until I was older. Nothing was done about that because they couldnt prove who had pressed the photo button on the phone, Parsons told the Herald. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan . Parsons had little memory of the event, except that, at one point, she vomited while a boy was allegedly raping her. [35] In response, Parsons' father, Glen Canning, accused Blatchford of victim blaming and argued, "The two boys involved in taking and posing for the photograph stated Rehtaeh was throwing up when they had sex with her. [22] Segal made 17 recommendations, and found the system "failed" on just about every level; a series of improvements to policies, procedures and actions relating to cyberbullying, sexual violence, investigations and prosecutions was contained in the report,[23] but significantly Segal wrote that it was reasonable of the Crown Prosecutor's office to conclude there was no realistic prospect that sexual assault charges would result in conviction, and thus "the decision not to lay charges of sexual assault was understandable. "[27] Rehtaeh's funeral on April 13 was attended by 500 people, including Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who said he came "first and foremost as a father trying to imagine what kind of incredible, unfathomable grief could be visited upon a family. "Ms. Parsons was treated as no more than a prop for his enjoyment.". [18][19] One conclusion of the report was that Nova Scotian schools "need to do a better job preventing harassment and sexual aggression". The day after she discovered the photo, she formed a suicide plan and came close to putting it in effect, ex-plaining that she couldn't see another option. Your email address will not be published. Parsons had little memory of the event, except that, at one point, she vomited while a boy was allegedly raping her. "Simply making the report doesn't guarantee it happens. Depending on the direction the RCMP are going it could very well be them. Theyve produced a series of shorts under the title Web Of Lies. Why ex Neighbours actress Caitlin Stasey launched feminist website Herself.com, Teenager commits suicide after photograph of her being gang-raped goes viral, Consent Is Key: A Victim of Revenge Porn Released Her Own Nude Photos. Their names can't be legally published in Canada. What we dont want to do is just drop names and start a witch hunt. [19] Canning said that Parsons was strip-searched by two men while receiving treatment in 2012 at the IWK, while the IWK denied the allegations.[19]. Your email address will not be published. "This has had a huge negative impact on me," he said. Please try again later. Rehtaeh was born to Leah and Glen in December 1995. NotRehtaehs rape, apparently. And in Steubenville, Ohio, the rape of a teenage girl by two local football stars was chronicled and shared in real time via Instagram and Twitter last August. The authors met with 111 people, including school board staff, Ministerial staff, school staff, youth, police, health-care workers and others. Earlier this year I flew to Halifax to be interviewed for an Investigation Discovery documentary about Rehtaeh. Never has the message been so powerful than Caitlin Staseys (ofReign)Herself,a feminist website that features not only nude photographs of women but also in-depth interviews with each participant. Another 20-year-old man charged in the case, whose identity is also protected, was given a conditional discharge in November after he pleaded guilty to making child pornography by taking the photo of the accused. How do you give consent when you are vomiting out of a window? Then about 15-years-old, she reportedly drank some vodka. "I don't sit here as a parent and say he's perfect," she told Blatchford. The photo soon began circulating throughout Rehtaeh's school and community . Rehtaeh Parsons' case attained worldwide notoriety last April, when she committed suicide after months of cyber-bullying. He admitted to sharing the picture of himself and the girl, that was taken during a small house party at his home in November 2011, and was given 12 months probation by a court in Nova Scotia. This is unacceptable. Once the two boys were done they carried her over and laid her on the bed to sleep. Why ex Neighbours actress Caitlin Stasey launched feminist website Herself.com, 11 Absolutely Empowering Ways to Celebrate the Woman In Your Life, 7 Important Adulting Skills That Everyone Should Know, 6 Simple Ways to Keep Your Business Going When Times Are Tough, 5 Low-risk Investment Alternatives To A Savings Account, The Truth About Millennials And Plastic Surgery, How To Dominate Dating When You Live A Busy Life, Download: 100+ Websites That Pay You To Blog. Earlier in the day, Rehtaeh's parents said news of the arrests brought them some solace, though the girl's father expressed disappointment that his daughter never saw justice served. And a photo of the incident had subsequently been . Others in this world took that away from her. cyberbullying legislation allows victims to sue", "New cyberbullying law can force removal of intimate images online", BILL NO. The death of Rehtaeh, who was taken off life support after a suicide attempt in April, led to an outcry. In November 2014, the Halifax Chronicle Herald violated the ban by publishing the name and photo of Parsons on its front page and online; the story was accompanied by an editor's note, stating: "We've decided to publish the name of the victim in this story, despite a court-ordered ban. Her parents took her off life support three days later. Press J to jump to the feed. Photos: Canadian teenager Rehtaeh Parsons Updated 1:29 PM EDT, Fri August 9, 2013 Link Copied! I am so very sorry for what happened to Rehtaeh. "It was all mutual. That is not called consensual sex. Holten is empowered by these photos. [42], Last edited on 14 December 2022, at 08:33, Anonymous muscle in on Canadian teen rape case, Post-assault treatment of sexual assault victims, List of suicides that have been attributed to bullying, Rehtaeh Parsons Video Tribute Marks Life Of 'Angel' (VIDEO), "Rehtaeh Parsons, Canadian Girl, Dies After Suicide Attempt; Parents Allege She Was Raped By 4 Boys", "Canadian teen commits suicide after alleged rape, bullying", Rape, bullying led to N.S. 04/11/13 AT 12:22 PM. Unfortunately Amanda Todd and Rehtaeh Parsons share a seeming failure on the part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to properly serve and protect them. She stated: The pictures are an attempt at making me a sexual subject instead of an object. Only several months after Rehtaehs assault, a 16-year-old high school student was raped by two high school football players in Steubenville, Ohio. This happened in the 80s before there were cell phones. My daughter was three years old when we went to watch Babe: Pig in the City. At some point the RCMP reached out to the group defending Parsonss alleged rapists, prompting admin Latisha Brimicombe to deactivate it. Her and her BF set me up with his best friend. (The police said they didn't have enough evidence to charge them with sexual assault; they also waited 10 months to investigate. I blamed myself for years. She was taken off life support a short while later. Parsons attempted to hang herself two years later and suffered severe brain damage. But they havent come out and said the reasoning for dropping the case originally. The man, whose identity is protected because he was 17 at the time of the offence, admitted to posing with Parsons at a house party in Cole Harbour, N.S., in a photo taken two years . If these boys had not taken pictures of their assault, what would they be charged with? The crime itself. According to Rehtaeh's mother, Leah Parsons, the Nova Scotia teenager went to a party in 2011, when she was 15, and became drunk on vodka. Earlier this month, Emma Holten, a victim of revenge porn released by a spiteful waste-of-life ex-boyfriend, released her own nude photos and started the Consent Project. Wells said the two were not being identified because they were minors when the alleged crimes occurred. Rehtaeh Parsons, 17, died just days after a suicide attempt that followed years of cyberbullying after she was allegedly gang-raped at a party. Rehtaeh is gone today because of the four boys that thought that raping a 15 year old girl was OK and to distribute a photo to ruin her spirit and reputation would be fun. Rehtaeh Parsons, 17, killed herself after photos of the incident were widely shared and months of cyber-bullying from her peers. She's gone," Glen Canning said. Welcome to Canadas official subreddit! Rehtaeh Parsons is shown in a Facebook photo. 2023 Miss Millennia Magazine Privacy Policy Splendor Theme by Restored 316, The pictures are an attempt at making me a sexual subject instead of an object. Two 18-year-old men were arrested on. Following the sentencing, members of Halifax anonymous wearing Guy Fawkes masks yelled at the young man's supporters as they left the courthouse. She was just 15. Canadian teenager Rehtaeh Parsons . I am in tears over this. Rehtaeh Parsons was raped by four boys at a party. Nor that the Halifax Regional Police would open an internal investigation to the negligent way the case was handled, why a yearlong investigation with photo evidence closed without a single charge.