The Murder of Reena Virk and Trials of Kelly Ellard

I would like to draw your attention to a disturbing case that occurred a few years ago. There is a book and movie depicting the horror of this crime.

On November 14, 1997, Reena Virk, a 14 year old girl, was swarmed and beaten to death under a bridge in Saanich on Vancouver Island, B.C. by a group of teenagers, mainly 7 girls and one boy (14-16 yrs.). Police found her body eight days later in Victoria's Gorge waterway. Reena Virk was a Sikh girl and a Jehovah's Witness who rebelled against her family's strict religious beliefs. She eventually became estranged from her family and spent a few days in a foster home where she came into contact with local gang culture.

Why did this gang brutally bully and murder Reena Virk? Was this a racially motivated hate crime? Is girl gang violence on the rise in Canada and elsewhere?

Six girls were sentenced in 1998 for their roles in the initial beatings. Warren Glowatski was convicted of second degree murder a year later and in 2000, Kelly Ellard was also convicted of second degree murder.