A teenage girl has been ordered to delete her Facebook accounts after she sent harmful messages to a schoolgirl, who later died in a suspected suicide.
The teen,16, who has statutory name suppression, put harmful posts on Facebook about Villa Maria College student Chelsea O'Byrne,13, who died in August 2017, Stuff reports.
She also sent Ms O'Byrne messages days before her death.
The coroner is yet to hold an inquest into her death.
The girl appeared at the Christchurch Youth Court on Tuesday to discuss her progress with Judge Jane McMeeken, who ordered her to delete her Facebook accounts.
The teen, who has been in Oranga Tamariki care, has started 40 hours of community work and must attend drug and alcohol abuse support programmes.
She is believed to be one of the youngest people to be charged under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, which came into effect in mid-2015, Stuff reports.
The girl has since apologised to Ms O'Byrne's family - who say they forgive her, Stuff reports.
Ms O'Bryne's mother said meeting the teenager was a healing experience.
"It's helped me move forward.
"I just felt sorry for her. All the people there for her were professionals, not her loved ones. It's pretty sad.
"At the end of the day it's given me closure, I wasn't expecting it, but it did. I wasn't expecting to forgive her, but forgiving sets you free."
Ms O'Byrne reportedly suffered from mental health issues and was receiving counselling up to her death.
Where to find help and support:
Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
Samaritans - 0800 726 666
Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
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