Ban on girl’s name in high-profile child porn case not in public interest: father

HALIFAX – The father of a teenage girl who died after attempting suicide says a court order banning the publication of her name is not in the public interest. The girl, who was the victim of a sexual assault, was taken off life-support following a suicide attempt last year.

The girl’s father, who can’t be named because it could identify her, said Friday he intends to keep using his daughter’s name in connection with the case.

“I’ve broken the publication ban myself. I’ve broken it I think every day,” he said. “I’m constantly talking about my daughter. I’m not going to stop doing that.”

READ MORE: #YouKnowHerName highlights anger over handling of high-profile Halifax child porn case

The girl’s death sparked an international conversation about rape culture and how police respond to allegations of sexual assault. A youth court judge ordered she not be identified in accordance with laws designed to protect victims of alleged sex crimes, although her name was widely reported prior to that.

Halifax Regional Police announced earlier on Friday they had investigated seven cases of possible breaches of the ban, but nobody would be charged as a result.

“Each of the complaints were investigated separately and after consulting with the Crown, we made the determination that no charges would be laid in any of these cases,” said spokesman Const. Pierre Bourdages.

Police say they will look into any future allegations of the ban being breached and will determine whether to press charges on a case-by-case basis.

At the sentencing hearing on Thursday for a young man who pleaded guilty to making child pornography in the case, several protesters gathered outside the court to protest the ban. They said it silences the victim’s relatives from telling their story. Others voiced their opposition by naming her on social media.

The 20-year-old man — who also cannot be identified because he was 17 at the time of the offence — took a picture of the victim, who was intoxicated, having sex at a party. He was given a conditional discharge and a sharp reprimand by the judge for destroying the girl’s life.

The victim’s father, who has become a national advocate, is calling on the Nova Scotia Department of Justice to lift the ban.

“If it’s not in the name of justice or anything like that, then make a statement. Come out and say, ‘In this case alone, the publication ban serves no purpose whatsoever and we won’t be enforcing it,'” he said, noting that it would look “pretty bad” if he were arrested for publishing his daughter’s name.

The Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service says it has no plans to remove the ban.

“We looked at that and determined that it would be inappropriate and unprecedented to announce to the world that, prospectively, if a crime was committed, we will not prosecute,” said spokeswoman Chris Hansen.

David Fraser, a privacy lawyer with McInnes Cooper in Halifax, says the ban doesn’t make sense anymore.

“What I’d really like to see is the director of public prosecution step forward and say it’s not in the public’s best interest to pursue charges in any of these investigations,” he said. “This is an extremely important story…that really needs to be told.”

Halifax freelance journalist Ryan Van Horne, who has openly admitted to breaching the ban and publishing the girl’s name, says he’s relieved by the news that police won’t be pursuing charges for past violations.

“This law is a good law, and in most cases…protecting the identity of a person who’s the victim of child pornography is a good thing,” he said. “In this particular case, it is different. It’s unique.”

The victim’s father says he just wants his daughter’s name back.

“She deserves that,” he said. “She wanted that, so give it to her. That’s all we’re asking for.”

With files from Global News and The Canadian Press