A Manitoba teen who was viciously assaulted and left for dead near a Winnipeg river last week is 鈥済etting stronger every day鈥� as she recovers in hospital, her family says.
Rinelle Harper was discovered badly beaten and unconscious along the banks of the Assiniboine River by a passerby last Saturday.
At a news conference on Thursday, her mother Julie Harper said Rinelle is eager to return to school.
Julie Harper called her daughter 鈥渁 fighter, she鈥檚 a hero to everybody.鈥�
Father Caesar Harper said his daughter 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 remember anything鈥� that happened to her.
鈥淭he first time I saw her at the hospital I (didn't) know what was going to happen to her," Caesar said before breaking down in tears. "She looked so bad, beaten ... It's really hard to forget (how) I saw her at first.鈥�
Grand Chief David Harper of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak thanked the community for their support during a difficult time.
He also called on all levels of government to protect women and girls against acts of violence.
鈥淭he acts of violence have to stop,鈥� David Harper said. 鈥淭his is a time that the wind has to change and each and everyone one of us, it is our responsibility to be able to make that change.鈥�
Surrounded by members of the Rinelle鈥檚 extended family, the grand chief also insisted that 鈥渢here should be no retaliation鈥� for the attack on Rinelle.
鈥淥ne family is hurt already,鈥� he said.
Rinelle鈥檚 family spoke out a day after two young men were arrested and charged in the vicious assault. Winnipeg police also allege a 23-year-old woman was attacked on the same night.
Justin James Hudson, 20, of Winnipeg, and a 17-year-old who cannot be identified, have been charged with attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon.
麻豆影视 has learned that both of the accused spent time in the child welfare system.
When CTV contacted Hudson鈥檚 father by phone, he said, 鈥淚 feel sorry about that. About what happened.鈥�
Police say Rinelle became separated from her friends Friday night, and was attacked near a downtown bridge. She ended up in the river, but managed to crawl out of the water before she was attacked again, police allege.
A passerby found Rinelle on a walking trail along the river seven hours later. She was taken to hospital, where she is now in stable condition.
Earlier this week Winnipeg police made the rare move of naming Rinelle to encourage more witnesses to come forward.
