Update scheduled for review of police, prosecution's handling of Parsons case

HALIFAX -- A former chief prosecutor in Ontario will give an update Thursday on his review into how the police and Nova Scotia's Public Prosecution Service handled the Rehtaeh Parsons case.

When Murray Segal was appointed in August by the provincial government he said he would consider the impact technology is having on young people and their families, as well as their interaction with the justice system and police.

Parsons was 17 when she was taken off life-support after attempting suicide in April.

Her family alleges she was sexually assaulted by four boys in November 2011 and then bullied for months after a digital photo of the alleged assault was passed around her school in Halifax.

Her case was later reopened after police said they received new information, which led to two 18-year-old men facing child pornography-related charges.

Segal, a former deputy attorney general in Ontario, has until April 1 to file his final report.

He has also been asked to determine whether the time it took to conduct the police investigation in the Parsons case was appropriate.

The terms of reference for Segal's review include looking at whether the police investigation of Parsons' complaint complied with training, policies and procedures that were in place at the time. It will also determine whether police training, policies and guidelines used to investigate allegations of sexual assault, child pornography and other offences related to cyberbullying are adequate.

As well, Segal has been asked to look at whether the advice given to police by the Public Prosecution Service complied with appropriate training, policies, procedures and guidelines, and determine whether they are adequate.

The review by Segal is the latest in a series of studies commissioned by the government since Parsons died. An independent review released in June concluded the Halifax Regional School Board could have done a better job handling her case, but it was hindered by the fact that Parsons was often absent from class.

The report also said the Parsons family faced challenges when they turned to Nova Scotia's mental health system for help, which prompted a separate review of mental health programs and policies at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.