Ontario police say letter telling family to ‘euthanize’ autistic child is not a hate crime
A hateful letter that suggested the Ontario family of a 13-year-old autistic boy should "euthanize" the child is rotten, but not rotten enough to be considered a hate crime.
Durham Regional Police said on Tuesday that a letter sent to a Newcastle, Ont., home "that attacks a disabled member of the family" would continue to be investigated.
"Despite the hateful language used, the Crown Attorney’s office has advised that the content of the letter falls below the threshold for a hate crime," the statement reads.
"However, there are other Criminal Code issues that are being considered."
The southern Ontario community has been rallying around the family since the letter was posted to the home last week.
[ Yahoo! vistiors express outrage over letter sent to family of autistic child ]
Brenda Milson, the grandmother of the autistic 13-year-old, told CTV News the child has been a frequent visitor over the summer.
The child's presence infuriated a neighbour enough that a letter signed "One pissed off mother" was delivered to the family’s doorstep.
"You have a kid that is mentally handicapped and you consciously decided that it would be a good idea to live in a close proximity neighbourhood like this????" the letter reads.
"You selfishly put your kid outside everyday and let him be a nothing but a nuisance and a problem to everyone else with that noise polluting whaling he constantly makes!!! That noise he makes when he is outside is DREADFUL!!!!!!!!!! It scares the hell out of my normal children!!!!!!!!!"
[ More Brew: Ontario police investigating hateful letter telling family to ‘euthanize’ autistic child ]
The letter goes on to say much worse, calling the boy a "wild animal kid," saying they should donate his "non retarded body parts" to science and urging the family to euthanize him.
Thus far the letter writer's identity remains unclear. The possibility of charges is not off the table.
The Criminal Code of Canada, for those interested, defines harassment as "conduct ... that causes that other person reasonably, in all the circumstances, to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them."
Just saying.
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