Amanda Todd memorials planned across Canada
About 60 people held a memorial at a metro Vancouver park Monday evening — just one of many unofficial gatherings being held across Canada to honour the 15-year-old girl who took her own life after years of bullying and blackmail.
The mourners commemorated the life of Amanda Todd by holding candles and flowers. Several more unofficial vigils and memorials have been planned in communities across Canada on Friday evening, including two by her aunt in Nova Scotia.
Amanda died last Wednesday, a month after posting a YouTube video in which she claimed an online stalker and bullying by peers set her down a path of anxiety, depression and drug and alcohol abuse.
An outpouring of emotion has followed her death, with more than 100 Facebook pages being set up in her memory.
The teen's death has brought worldwide attention to the problem of online bullying and Amanda's mother has said she hopes her daughters video can be used as a tool to help prevent future deaths.
On Monday, the internet hacking and activist group Anonymous published the name and address of a Vancouver-area man that the group claims was bullying and preying on Amanda via the internet.
The activist group claims the 32-year-old man has also made postings to child pornography sites.
The man is now himself the target of threats on Facebook, Twitter, and other websites.
RCMP say they are aware of the allegations against the man and are watching what is happening online.
Defence lawyer Eric Gottardi is also watching the online rage and has concerns about the prospect of people taking justice into their own hands.
"The system isn't supposed to convict someone before charges are laid. It isn't supposed to be judge, jury and executioner, all in the public forum. We have a justice system. It's supposed to work. It does work," said Gottardi.
