Police reopen Parsons case

[Posteritatis]

Source: The Chronicle-Herald

Police are reopening the Rehtaeh Parsons case.

A release Friday said “in light of new and credible information that has recently been brought forward to police, (the RCMP and Halifax Regional Police) are reopening the investigation" involving the Cole Harbour girl who died recently by suicide after an alleged sexual assault.

“An investigative team from the criminal investigation division, comprised of both RCMP and Halifax Regional Police officers, has been assigned to review this new information as it relates to the totality of this file,” the release said.

It said this information “did not come from an online source. The person providing the information is willing to verify who they are, the reason they’re providing it and is willing to work with police as part of the investigation.”

Read more: http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1123053-police-reopen-parsons-case

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Just an update on this, since it's moved fairly quickly the last few days - almost certainly in part thanks to you guys and people elsewhere online, who added a lot of additional pressure to the massive, massive outrage this whole fiasco's already ignited here in town. A couple of big threads on this petered out the other day, but there was a lot of good discussion going on in them so I figured people might be interested in the latest.

[SunSeeker]

1. Good. Justice needs to be done. nt

[chuckstevens]

2. My Heart Aches for the girl and her family

While I hope justice is served and the little assholes who think what they did was acceptable behavior rot in jail, I look at the picture of that beautiful young women and my heart aches. Nothing will bring her back. She had her whole life ahead of her and it was ruined by these little punks. I am just so sorry for the Parsons. Know that many people out there are thinking of you and WE CARE about this!

[Posteritatis]

3. Yeah, same here.

As I mentioned in an earlier thread on this, I went to one of the two high schools she attended - the second one, that she was transferred to in order to attempt to get away from the treatment her 'peers' were giving her. I can see it out my window right now.

The whole thing's hitting hard; not just on a personal level either. The whole town's been furious.

[Shrike47]

4. I just hope some justice comes out of all this.

So sad.

[timdog44]

5. It is frustrating

to see this kind of thing just repeating itself. Justice for Rehtaeh. And to hell with the criminals.

Good thoughts for the family.

[LadyHawkAZ]

6. "new and credible information" i.e. the media spotlight

was a little too bright and hot.

I guess it's better than nothing.

[Posteritatis]

7. Probably a mix of that and people finally leaning on some of the people who were sitting on info

There's no way - nada, none - that a hell of a lot of students didn't know every detail about this and were either trying to protect their buddies or convinced themselves none of this was a big deal. The city as a whole being as angry about this as it has probably finally started putting a lot of pressure on the 'right' people as well, especially considering that reopening this seems to have started by people coming forward with information.

Now, I don't believe for an attosecond that the online sleuthing didn't contribute as well, but the cops definitely won't admit that one for political/legal reasons.

[LadyHawkAZ]

8. I'm glad something's finally being done

but it's still too little too late for that poor girl.

[Posteritatis]

9. Yeah, it's something at the very, small least

I have a dim view of this province's ability to address bullying in the first place (I'm a bit biased; I was in twelfth grade the year Columbine happened) but this one's kind of feeling like a watershed moment on the issue around here.

I'm trying to feel optimistic. It's hard.

[Wolf Frankula]

10. But. But. They were such Good Boys, From Nice Families.

I once heard a judge say that to a young malefactor who had been convicted of strong arm robbery. He finished with "I'm going to throw the book at you. Six years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed."

If convicted, I hope these get the maximum sentence.

Wolf

[caseymoz]

11. Good! This needs to happen.

I'm so happy this is being pursued.