Dawn-Marie Wesley (May 5, 1986 – November 10, 2000) was a Canadian student who committed suicide after experiencing a cycle of bullying by psychological torture and verbal threats from three female bullies at her high school.[1]
Dawn-Marie Wesley
School photograph of Dawn-Marie Wesley, who committed suicide after intense bullying
She left behind a note to her family that referred to the bullying to which she had been subjected: "If I try to get help, it will get worse. They are always looking for a new person to beat up and these are the toughest girls. If I ratted, they would get expelled from school and there would be no stopping them. I love you all so much." She hanged herself with a dog leash in her bedroom.[1]
At the age of 14, Dawn-Marie Wesley hanged herself with a dog leash in her bedroom after experiencing a cycle of psychological torture and verbal threats. She left a suicide note in which she said she was bullied by three female classmates. Wesley's body was discovered by her 13-year-old brother who had come to her room to call her to have dinner with the family. Mission's Royal Canadian Mounted Police found no crime had been committed, and some police officers were accused of a possible cover up, as one of the bullies accused was the daughter of an officer in the town. The incident garnered international media attention, which led to the groundbreaking investigation by Canada's Crown, and a precedent setting court case where for the first time in North American courts, teenage defendants were made to stand trial for bullying. Two of the teens pleaded guilty to Wesley's suicide, and the third was acquitted of all charges.
Legal proceedings
The historic, landmark and precedent setting court case was presided over by Provincial Court Judge Jill Rounthwaite. It was noted that one of the girl bullies named in the suicide note was the daughter of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer in Mission. Two girls were convicted of uttering threats with the intent to instill fear, and criminal harassment.[2] Their identities are protected because they were prosecuted under Canada's Young Offenders Act.[2] B.C. Provincial Court Judge Jill Rounthwaite's ruling stated that it was clear that one of the accused had bullied Wesley repeatedly thus giving the victim reason to fear for her life. Rounthwaite also stated that bystanders added "to the power of the bully" by letting the harassment continue without intervention.
Documentary film
Rats & Bullies is a feature documentary film written, directed and produced by Roberta McMillan and Ray Buffer that investigated Wesley's suicide and offers solutions to teens, parents, teachers and school administrators on bullying. The film includes interviews with people involved in the tragedy and insight from educational experts.
Rats & Bullies was filmed on location on Mission, British Columbia, Canada; Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada; Washington D.C.; and California (USA).
References
^ ab"CBC News Indepth: Bullying". from the original on 2011-08-04. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
^ abLeslie Knopp (30 August 2006). "Canadian Teen Convicted Of Bullying Friend Into Suicide". Komo News. from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
Further reading
Cassidy McMillan: Cutting Edge Filmmaker Advocating for the Prevention of Bullying
External links
CBC News B.C. girl convicted in school bullying tragedy
Rats & Bullies is a documentary feature film written and directed by Cassidy R. McMillan and Ray Buffer (2011)
The Salt Lake Tribune
Bullies And Friends documentary by Cassidy McMillan details the precedent setting court case surrounding the death of Dawn Marie Wesley and offers solutions to bullying
suicide, dawn, marie, wesley, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, october, 2014, learn, when, remove, this, templa. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Dawn Marie Wesley May 5 1986 November 10 2000 was a Canadian student who committed suicide after experiencing a cycle of bullying by psychological torture and verbal threats from three female bullies at her high school 1 Dawn Marie WesleySchool photograph of Dawn Marie Wesley who committed suicide after intense bullyingBorn 1986 05 05 5 May 1986Mission British Columbia CanadaDied10 November 2000 2000 11 10 aged 14 Mission British Columbia CanadaCause of deathSuicide by hangingNationalityCanadianOccupationStudentShe left behind a note to her family that referred to the bullying to which she had been subjected If I try to get help it will get worse They are always looking for a new person to beat up and these are the toughest girls If I ratted they would get expelled from school and there would be no stopping them I love you all so much She hanged herself with a dog leash in her bedroom 1 Contents 1 Incident 2 Legal proceedings 3 Documentary film 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksIncident EditAt the age of 14 Dawn Marie Wesley hanged herself with a dog leash in her bedroom after experiencing a cycle of psychological torture and verbal threats She left a suicide note in which she said she was bullied by three female classmates Wesley s body was discovered by her 13 year old brother who had come to her room to call her to have dinner with the family Mission s Royal Canadian Mounted Police found no crime had been committed and some police officers were accused of a possible cover up as one of the bullies accused was the daughter of an officer in the town The incident garnered international media attention which led to the groundbreaking investigation by Canada s Crown and a precedent setting court case where for the first time in North American courts teenage defendants were made to stand trial for bullying Two of the teens pleaded guilty to Wesley s suicide and the third was acquitted of all charges Legal proceedings EditThe historic landmark and precedent setting court case was presided over by Provincial Court Judge Jill Rounthwaite It was noted that one of the girl bullies named in the suicide note was the daughter of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer in Mission Two girls were convicted of uttering threats with the intent to instill fear and criminal harassment 2 Their identities are protected because they were prosecuted under Canada s Young Offenders Act 2 B C Provincial Court Judge Jill Rounthwaite s ruling stated that it was clear that one of the accused had bullied Wesley repeatedly thus giving the victim reason to fear for her life Rounthwaite also stated that bystanders added to the power of the bully by letting the harassment continue without intervention Documentary film EditRats amp Bullies is a feature documentary film written directed and produced by Roberta McMillan and Ray Buffer that investigated Wesley s suicide and offers solutions to teens parents teachers and school administrators on bullying The film includes interviews with people involved in the tragedy and insight from educational experts Rats amp Bullies was filmed on location on Mission British Columbia Canada Abbotsford British Columbia Canada Washington D C and California USA References Edit a b CBC News Indepth Bullying Archived from the original on 2011 08 04 Retrieved 2011 07 24 a b Leslie Knopp 30 August 2006 Canadian Teen Convicted Of Bullying Friend Into Suicide Komo News Archived from the original on 16 September 2018 Retrieved 16 September 2018 Further reading EditCassidy McMillan Cutting Edge Filmmaker Advocating for the Prevention of BullyingExternal links EditCBC News B C girl convicted in school bullying tragedy Rats amp Bullies is a documentary feature film written and directed by Cassidy R McMillan and Ray Buffer 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune Bullies And Friends documentary by Cassidy McMillan details the precedent setting court case surrounding the death of Dawn Marie Wesley and offers solutions to bullying Dawn Marie Wesley at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Suicide of Dawn Marie Wesley amp oldid 1124337763, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
