(**NOTE:  610CKTB presented a special 2 hour forum Thursday, Oct. 18/12: CKTB STANDS UP TO BULLYING.  To hear the podcast of the entire program, click here.)

CLICK HERE to listen to my interview with Allan Hubley, the Ottawa councillor who lost his bullied son to suicide one year ago.

AMANDA TODD STORY

RCMP in the lower mainland of B.C. will undertake a full investigation into the suicide death of bullied teen Amanda Todd. Amanda, 15, was found dead in her home Wednesday.

Though her story has been much told over the last few days, her bullying troubles began two years when she began using a webcam with friends. A boy she met online talked her into flashing her breasts, and it was days later that police knocked on her door to tell her that picture was posted on the internet.

RIP AMANDA TODD

It seems shortly after Amanda often appeared depressed and suffering from anxiety. Escape attempts from her personal hell included substance abuse and cutting herself. She was bullied online and in real life. She changed schools but was beaten up by a group of teens right in front of her new school. When suicide by drinking bleach was attempted, kids online said it was too bad she wasn't dead.

On September 7 she uploaded a video describing her ordeal. 5 weeks later she was dead.

Although difficult to prove, there are areas in the Criminal Code that could result in charges for those involved in the bullying. Certainly assault charges could result from the physical beating she took. Libel is a possibility. Distributing pictures of an underage girl exposing her breasts could also bring criminal prosecution, but it is all very difficult and in some ways, new territory for police and the judicial system.

As people mourned and commented online about this senseless loss, many people could not simply fathom how anyone could be that cruel and insensitive. I would rank among those people. It is not my function to assign blame, but it would seem a lot of people dropped the ball here: People who don't know the difference between bullying and playful teasing. People who didn't realize this young girl was hurting deeply. People who haven't been taught about human kindness. The list goes on.

I hope the police are able to charge some of them. There has to be responsibility and accountability for lives so callously tossed away. They have set up a special email account for the public's help. AmandaTODDinfo@rcmp-grc-gc.ca.

We use the term rest in peace all the time, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Rest in the peace that eluded you in life Amanda. Some good may come of this...we can only hope. LEAVE COMMENTS.

Click here to return to the Larry Fedoruk page.

Here is her video, difficult to watch, but here it is.