Teen says he was wrongly named in Rehtaeh Parsons case
Source: CBC
A Nova Scotia teenager who says he was wrongly named in the Rehtaeh Parsons case wants to clear his name.
Adam Barnes, 19, said he wasnt at the party where 15-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons was allegedly sexually assaulted. However, he said some online posters are claiming he is involved and have distributed his picture.
According to Parsons' mother, four boys sexually assaulted her daughter when she was 15. Rehtaeh was then said to have been mocked by classmates, enduring relentless harassment and humiliation after a photo of the attack was circulated at her Cole Harbour, N.S. school and on social media.
...
I've nothing to do with this case. I was not involved with anything with the police with this. My name got thrown out there because actually I don't know why my name got thrown out there. I have a theory because I have pictures with the other boys ... I am friends with them. but right now this is bringing me into fear and worry because my life right now is falling apart because of this, Barnes told CBC News.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/04/19/ns-rehtaeh-parsons-bully-false-accused-boy.html
We've seen examples of Internet vigilante justice gone WAY wrong whether with trying to name the Boston bombers or Rehteah's rapists.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)He said "I am friends with them(perps)". As in, he still is. As it is clear that rape was committed, per the photos, it should be expected that he would not continue associating with these individuals.
Vigilante justice is not right, but that does not mean we should turn a blind eye. What are we supposed to tell the victims: "Sorry, the politics are just not right at this time for us to press charges on your attackers"?
EDIT - And THAT is the big difference between Rahteah and Boston. The police did their job in Boston. The politics allowed it.
aggiesal
(8,864 posts)there are other photos with him and the boys (his "friends" accused of the rape,
and these photos are the ones that authorities are using to include him as one of
the suspects.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)My question is what happened after the rape? Odds are the young men first sent the pictures of the assault to their immediate acquaintances, him being one. Did he then report it to the police, as he should, or did he further pass along the images to his other friends and school-mates. Doing so may have created a cyber trail that lead vigilantes to him who perhaps mistook him as having participated directly in the rape. He may not be guilty of rape, but did he participate in the aftermath? Everyone that did should also be charged, though with lesser charges.