Rehtaeh Parsons Update: Police reopen alleged rape case of Canadian girl who committed suicide
(CBS/AP) HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - Police in Canada say they have received new information and are reopening the case of Rehtaeh Parsons, a teen girl whose mother says she hanged herself after being bullied and becoming depressed over an alleged rape by four teenage boys.
PICTURES: Mom blames rape, bullying for teen's suicide
The Royal Canadian Mounted police said they have received credible information in the case of the 17-year-old Parsons, whose family said she was photographed while being sexually assaulted in 2011 and then bullied after the photo was shared on the Web and went viral.
Police concluded there were no grounds to charge anyone after an initial year-long investigation.
Rehtaeh Parsons was taken off life-support by her mother, Leah Parsons, on April 7 after she hanged herself in the prior week.
Earlier in the week it was reported that Justice Minister Ross Landry said he had no plans to review the case because he has no reason to doubt the integrity of the police investigation. However, by late Tuesday, he reportedly issued a statement saying he has asked government officials to present options this week to review the case.
"It's one thing to say I have confidence in the justice system," Landry told CTV News. "The public needs to have confidence in the justice system, and if that gets shaken, then it's my responsibility to react, and that's what I'm doing."
Rehtaeh's funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
Complete coverage of Rehtaeh Parsons on Crimesider
