Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The sentencing hearing was held Thursday morning in Halifax in provincial court. Credit: Telegraph.co.uk In November of 2011, 15-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons was gang raped at a party by four of her male peers. Rehtaeh's death prompted the Nova Scotia government to launch reviews of the RCMP's original investigation and the school board's handling of the matter. Rehtaeh Parsons: Man who shared explicit photo before death of girl In November of 2011, 15-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons was gang raped at a party by four of her male peers. A Nova Scotia man who texted a photo that showed him penetrating a 15-year-old girl and flashing a thumbs-up while she vomited won't see the inside of a prison anytime soon. We look forward to seeing what the results are of the review.". Parsons, who was attempting to throw up out of a window at the time the photo was taken, while the teenage boy was having sex with her and holding his thumb up to the camera while another teenager took the picture, according to Herald News. He said he hadn't failed Rehtaeh, but the justice system had failed her. By juxtaposing these images with lengthy, personal interviews with each participant. "[26], Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper commented on the case, saying he was "sickened" by the story and that the online bullying was "simply criminal activity. The teen in the photo was sentenced Thursday to one year of probation and ordered not to drink alcohol. Web of Lies - After a teenage house party spirals out of control, a shocking photo goes viral around the local schools. 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. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigated the case, but found insufficient evidence to press chargesdespite photographic evidence of the crime. Each photograph becomes a subject. "I was unable to console her as she crumbled emotionally after that photo was taken. "She's dead now. 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. Just as rape and sex have nothing to do with each other, pictures shared with and without consent are completely different things.. How do you give consent when you are vomiting out of a window? 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. Their names can't be legally published in Canada. Rehtaeh Parsons suicide: two charged over photos in cyberbullying case Blatchford also wrote the photo did not show Parsons' face. Parsons' parents have called it rape. Rehtaeh Parsons Pictures, Images and Stock Photos View rehtaeh parsons videos Browse 32 rehtaeh parsons stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. It is because these participants are in control of their choices. You certainly should have, the judge said, but you should have been crying while she was alive.. "[27] Later, Anonymous announced it would not publicize the names of the individuals it believed to be the rapists, in respect of the Parsons family's wishes. It recommended that the Halifax Regional School Board clarify the transfer approval process between schools, in order to stamp out any inconsistencies between policy and practices. [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." Two young men have been charged. Her mother said a boy took a photo of the alleged assault in 2011 and that her daughter was bullied for months after it was distributed online. Why? Rehtaehs case is yet another sad reminder of the power of social media to stretch a moment of sexual violence into a years-long ordeal that destroys a teenagers life. Regardless of whether they were willing participants in these images or victims of sexual assault, they are shamed. I had bruises on the insides of my thighs and my entire pelvic area. Facebook apologises over dating ad showing picture of Rehtaeh Parsons Rehtaeh stood up for others, showed compassion to animals and people. [3] According to the family, the boys were not questioned and their phones were not reviewed for the photograph of the rape in progress. Miss Millennia Magazine LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The photo soon began circulating throughout Rehtaeh's school and community . Rehtaeh took her own life last week at the age of 17 after being gang raped in 2011 and relentlessly bullied by her classmates and peers ever since. [8], Following the suicide, the RCMP announced they were reviewing the case. [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". 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. Rehtaeh Parsons: Two in court on child pornography offences These images are reaffirming. Perhaps we should consider a disclaimer. She was allegedly gang-raped, photographed, and shamed under similar circumstances. "I don't sit here as a parent and say he's perfect," she told Blatchford. "Ms. Parsons was treated as no more than a prop for his enjoyment.". Rehtaeh Parsons case: No jail over photo of 'assault' - BBC News She stated: The pictures are an attempt at making me a sexual subject instead of an object. At some point the RCMP reached out to the group defending Parsonss alleged rapists, prompting admin Latisha Brimicombe to deactivate it. [18][19] One conclusion of the report was that Nova Scotian schools "need to do a better job preventing harassment and sexual aggression". The charges against both men are disgusting. My heart bleeds for all of you, as a parent now I just cannot imagine what you are going through. Depending on the direction the RCMP are going it could very well be them. Home | Rehtaeh Parsons Society In the end, several adults (members of the school district) were indicted for failing to report child abuse and tampering with an ongoing investigation. 35 reviews. Parsons died in April after a suicide attempt at the age of 17. How can we undo the damage that has been done? A photo of her rape soon began circulating online. Rehtaeh Parsons Was My Daughter | HuffPost News The two boys who had sex with her, both 16, passed the photo to several friends. Police initially concluded there were no grounds to charge anyone after a yearlong investigation. Im grateful to everyone for all of your support, thoughts, and the prayers youve sent us. [3][4] On a Facebook page set up in tribute to her daughter, Parsons' mother blamed the four boys who allegedly raped and released images of her, the subsequent constant "bullying and messaging and harassment", and the failure of the Canadian justice system, for her daughter's decision to commit suicide.[5]. And this was how the notorious picture of Rehtaeh Parsons naked from the waist down, hanging out a window after she'd thrown up, unaware that the half-naked boy behind her was looking over his. [39], A replacement law, the Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act,[39] was passed in 2017[40] and came into force in 2018. 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. The girl told her parents that while she was heavily. Suicide of Rehtaeh Parsons - Wikipedia On April 4, 2013, Rehtaeh Parsons (/rte/, r-TAY-;[1] December 9, 1995 April 7, 2013), a 17-year-old former Cole Harbour District High School student, attempted suicide by hanging[2] at her home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, leading to a coma and the decision to switch her life support machine off on April 7, 2013. The charges come a day after a new law took effect in the province that allows people to sue if they or their children are being cyberbullied. Yesterday, 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons' father wrote a heart-rending letter about his daughter. I had to read it more than once. Rehtaeh Parsons photo used in Facebook dating ad | CBC News Leah Parsons said she planned to meet with Segal as soon as he's back in town. Probation for second man sentenced in Rehtaeh Parsons case [15] He was sentenced on January 15, 2015, to one year of probation and required to submit a sample to a DNA database. Consent is key. In July 2010, there was a reaction to the use of one of Anonymous' slogans by the Oregon Tea Party. Nothing was done about that because they couldnt prove who had pressed the photo button on the phone, Parsons told the Herald. He was bullied as a result of the photo, his lawyer told the court. "That kid pled guilty to having sex with her while she was vomiting out a window," he said. A Nova Scotia man who texted a photo that showed him penetrating a 15-year-old girl and flashing a thumbs-up while she vomited won't see the inside of a prison anytime soon. Canadian ban on printing Rehtaeh Parsons' name extends to - Poynter The boy I was set up with raped me. When I was 15 years old, I went to a party with my Friend. And able to make decisions about their bodies. Thats right: the group designed to support the boys had been responsible for leaking the name of one of the accused. (The young man who posed for the photo was also underage at the time. 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. We want to make sure you are financially fit, healthy and making excellent life decisions. Interested in learning more about the female body issues? Rehtaeh Parsons' bullying death: 2 teens charged with child porn in A vicious campaign of cyber bullying ensues that drives an innocent girl to take desperate action. Kevin Morris is a veteran web reporter and editor who specializes in longform journalism. I remember crying and saying NO but it didnt stop. At today's sentencing, he said posing for the "sexually degrading" photo and texting it to two people warranted a harsher penalty. Their beloved daughter left this world on April 7, 2013, at the age of 17. ", Listing mitigating factors in the case, his lawyer said the man became well known after Anonymous activists in Halifax publicized his name. On Rehtaehs memorial Facebook page, her mother, Leah, described how the rape and ceaseless harassment pulled the girl into depression and suicidal thoughts. A man has walked free from court after he was convicted of sharing a sexually explicit image of himself with a 15-year-old girl who then killed herself after being bullied over it. "We've been waiting for [the review] more so than we've been waiting for the sentencing results," Parsons said. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. He's looking at the camera and giving a thumbs-up. Police in April said a person had provided new information in the Parsons case and was willing to identify the suspects. "I will not live with the guilt of someone passing away, but I will live with the guilt of the photo.". 04/11/13 AT 12:22 PM. The saga of 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons, the Nova Scotia teen who took her own life in early April, continues. The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, applauded the progress in the case and said Rehtaeh's death was a terrible tragedy that touched people across Canada. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He told the man in court, according to CBC News: This was a vile crime, the consequences were tragic; they were the worst possible., He added that the photo was a gross violation of the personal integrity of Parsons and that the man had shown utter contempt for her by using her in her vulnerable state as no more than a prop for his enjoyment.. The Halifax-area teen committed suicide after allegedly being gang rape. This attempt was apparently thwarted by school authorities. Editor-in-Chief of Miss Millennia Magazine. "It was all mutual. These consensual images progress a move away from a society. BestsellerThe Barista Express grinds, foams milk, and produces the silkiest espresso at the perfect temperature. Rehtaeh Parsons, Bullying and the Cyclical Nature of Rape Culture His name is still covered by the ban.). She was 17 when she died. [14] With a conditional discharge, his criminal record will not show a conviction in this case, unless he breaches the terms of his probation. The policenever seized any of the boys phones, computers, or hard drives. "Where's the consent? I know she was not cruel or mean to you [name removed]. We are in essence doing what the RCMP should have done themselves, investigate the circumstance thoroughly. Both of you are in my heart. Rehtaeh Parsons, Amanda Todd, and the Cyber-Failures of the RCMP - Vice 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. To me, Id think youd get the boys right away, separate them., The police told her that the distribution of the photos wasnot really a criminal issue, its more of a community issue.. Parsons had little memory of the event, except that, at one point, she vomited while a boy was allegedly raping her. He also said, "I have pled (sic) guilty to distributing child pornography, not a sexual assault" and, "I never played a part in the bullying [of Rehtaeh], nor would I.". Parsons was hanging out a window after having just vomited, being penetrated, when the photo was taken without her knowledge or consent. Canadian media cannot refer to Parsons or the man by name because . Just as rape and sex have nothing to do with each other, pictures shared with and without consent are completely different things.. The Rape of Rehtaeh Parsons - Glen Canning Our Angel, born December 9th, 1995. and Tragically passed away on April 7th, 2013 The boy raping Rehtaeh posed and gave a thumbs up. Thumbs up. The heart of the problem lies in the fact that there is nothing inherently shameful about the naked human body. 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. 04/16/13 AT 12:45 PM. Images via DarksideBarones/Twitter. Where's the rape charge? Shes looking into the camera. He led the Daily Dots esports vertical and, following its acquisition by GAMURS in late 2016, launched Dot Esports, where he serves as the sites editor-in-chief. "He's not. Web of Lies - The Girl in the Photo - Glen Canning You have all worked so hard through such difficult times. She was just 15. Photos: Canadian teenager Rehtaeh Parsons | CNN 95 talking about this. Only several months after Rehtaehs assault, a 16-year-old high school student was raped by two high school football players in Steubenville, Ohio. [9] This, of course, brings into question what the RCMP, with their greater (legal) resources, have in terms of evidence. Thank you for your message. ), "Obviously, if I felt like if she didn't want it, it wouldn't have happened," the teen told the paper. So, I wont try to do that. [12] Citing the offender's age at the time of the crime and Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Crown had advised the Judge that the only possible penalties in this case were either probation or a conditional discharge. [20] "The school to which Rehtaeh transferred received no information about these events and did not get to know Rehtaeh well," the report noted. VICE Canada respected the ban while it was in place. But they havent come out and said the reasoning for dropping the case originally. Then about 15-years-old, she reportedly drank some vodka. Rehtaeh Parsons Update: Two arrests in case of Canadian teen who The crime itself. I thought she died. So the public has a right to know who these rapists are, who these sexual deviants are. Their lives took a terrible turn in November 2011 when Rahtaeh attended a party with a few friends. There's a part in the movie when Babe knocks over a goldfish bowl and the fish falls onto the floor and starts flopping around. [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. 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. Anonymous knows who the suspects are, but its staying silent out of respector Leah Parsonss wish that the boys not be publicly named. 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. 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. Rehtaeh Parsons, 17, of Nova Scotia, killed herself in April after being taunted over a photo of her alleged rape by four boys, her mother has said.