Defence to seek Nova Scotia Crown testimony in Rehtaeh Parsons case

HALIFAX – Defence lawyers are scheduled to appear in a Halifax court today to argue a Crown lawyer should have to testify about why child pornography charges were laid against two teens after the death of Rehtaeh Parsons.

Defence lawyer Ian Hutchinson has filed a subpoena to have Crown prosecutor Craig Botterill testify.

Hutchison says in court documents that Nova Scotia’s Public Prosecution Service changed its policy on so-called sexting in the days after Parsons’ death and child porn charges wouldn’t have been laid against the teens if the policy hadn’t changed.

Nova Scotia’s attorney general has filed an application to quash Hutchinson’s subpoena, saying it would breach client-solicitor privilege.

The 17-year-old Parsons was taken off life-support following a suicide attempt last April.

Her family says she was bullied for months after a photograph of her allegedly being sexually assaulted in November 2011 was passed around her school.