The name of Letisha Reimer, the 13-year-old girl killed in a 2016 stabbing at Abbotsford senior secondary, can once again be legally published.
The BC Review Board had banned publication of Letisha Reimer’s name after her assailant was deemed unfit to stand trial. The News had applied last month to lift the ban on Reimer’s name, and on Monday, Dave Teixeira, a representative for Reimer’s family, tweeted that the ban had been lifted.
Teixeira had previously said the ban, which was put in place by the review board without notifying media or other affected parties, had the effect of “muzzling” Letisha’s parents.
#BREAKING BC Review Board lifts publication ban on Letisha Reimer's name. Thankfully common sense prevailed as Letisha's family NEVER wanted their daughter's name removed so only her killer's name would be published! Thank you @ty_olsen & @AbbyNews for helping make this happen. pic.twitter.com/XIegL9GIrP
— Dave Teixeira (@davedotca) December 18, 2018
A ban remains in place on information that could identify a second girl injured, but not killed, in the attack. The News did not apply to lift the ban on that victim’s name.
In the application, which was sent by reporter Tyler Olsen and crafted with the assistance of legal counsel, The News argued the ban on Letisha Reimer’s name contravenes the “open court principle” that presupposes courtrooms should be open to the public and information reportable.
Under the principle, courts should be open to the public unless doing so would jeopardize the administration of justice or compromise the rights of the interested parties and public.
The News had also pointed out that such a ban shifts the focus of coverage of such crimes away from victims and towards the accused. Teixeira had also noted that Reimer’s parents felt like they could not tell their daughter’s story because of the ban.
According to an image tweeted out by Teixeira, the ban on Reimer’s name was lifted on Thursday. The News has not yet heard from the Review Board regarding its application.
Read The News’s application below.
RELATED: Abbotsford News challenges publication ban on name of school stabbing victim
RELATED: Advocate for Abbotsford victim’s family blasts ‘secretive’ B.C. Review Board
RELATED: Man charged in Abbotsford school stabbing found unfit to stand trial
@ty_olsentolsen@abbynews.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
