Community grieves for slain teenager - Front Pages

Community grieves for slain teenager

Newspaper Name: Saanich News
Province: British Columbia
Town(s) Served: Saanich
Published: 12/03/1997
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The tragic and senseless murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk, who was beaten and drowned by a group of fellow teens in Saanich, is one of the most heart-wrenching events to ever happen within the municipality's borders. Her 1997 death led to more than a dozen years of trials for the accused, ultimately leading to two successful second-degree murder convictions. Virk's death sparked national and international attention, and brought to the forefront the issue of teen-on-teen violence. The Saanich News coverage at the time of her death was thorough, focusing on not just the news story, but also the impact the murder had on the community and on the greater conversation of bullying and teen violence.