Rehtaeh Parsons Update: Teens face child porn charges in case of Canadian girl who killed herself after alleged rape, cyber-bullying
(CBS) HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - Two teens are facing child porn charges in the case of Rehtaeh Parsons, the 17-year-old Nova Scotia girl who committed suicide after she was allegedly gang raped and cyber-bullied, reports the CBC in Canada.
PICTURES: Mom blames rape, bullying for teen's suicide
The two were arrested at 8 a.m. Thursday by the Halifax-region Royal Canadian Mounted Police at their homes in the Halifax Regional Municipality in Novia Scotia, an RCMP spokesman, Cpl. Scott MacRae, told CBS News' Crimesider.
One man, 18, is charged with two counts of distributing child pornography, reports the CBC. The other man, also 18, is charged with making and distributing child pornography.
Parsons' case sparked outrage across Canada. 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.
In April, the teen attempted suicide at her home, and later died after being taken off life support, according to news reports.
The RCMP initially said there weren't enough grounds to lay charges after consulting with Novia Scotia's Public Prosecution Service, reports the Metro newspaper in Canada, but re-opened the investigation a week after Parsons' death, saying someone stepped forward with new information.
Rehtaeh's father, Glen Canning, told the CBC the news is bittersweet.
"After everything we've been through, you're almost in a place where you're not expecting anything at all and then all of a sudden it's here. To hear those words, 'We've made two arrests,' I felt like crying, I felt like running," he said. "At the same time you feel sad because my daughter is never going to know that sense of justice. She'll never know that."
The arrests came a day after a new law took effect in Nova Scotia making it possible for victims of cyberbullying to sue.
Complete coverage of Rehtaeh Parsons on Crimesider
