I think the law is a very clunky and inexact tool.
Especially in this case -- I think there should be some kind of intermediary, some kind of 'truth and reconciliation' panel, perhaps the intervention of counselors or perhaps religious elders (pastors?) who could supervise not only a meeting between the families, but some kind of community dialogue and healing. And of course, ensure the problem gets nipped in the bud legally and there is a framework of prevention.
Of course to do that, you have to be able to clearly name and identify the problem. Hiding things is sinister, it only lets unwanted things thrive and fester.
I can see many parents getting all nutty and become children themselves just like the family in the article. Wasn't there that mom who killed a girl and her mother who was a rival cheerleader? I've heard of dads who physically assault umpires in little league matches.
I think sometimes parents identify too strongly with their children. These adults have never completed processed or healed their hurts from teasing, alienation, anxiety, and failure as children OR as adults and go beyond projecting onto their kids. Their children are like a biblical rebirth of themselves.
On top of that, I find that in America a lot of parents have no idea what it means to 'be the parent' and are obsessed with having their children 'like them' and they want to be 'hip' --> this thought is foreign to me. I know when I'm a parent I will not give a damn if my kids like me or 'hate me' as long I can keep them safe and raise them right. As kids, my brother and I barely bothered with hating my parents, because we knew they don't give a damn and they can't be manipulated by it. They were not hip. They did not care.
So while this case is startling, it touches on a lot of pathological issues within the larger community I think and absolutely it's to everyone's bet interest to deal with it and nip it in the bud.
And it is absolutely an injustice to everyone involved and for the community to just let it end like this.
For one thing, the family involved in the myspace site -- my god, they are going to turn into monsters. Right now, they did something of monster proportions, but it's how they deal with it that will seal their fate.
Plus if what you say is true, I wouldn't be surprised if something bad happens to them...People are funny, once a target has been chosen society does not let the target get away scot free.
If they are left off the hook, not only will they will have to justify pushing a girl to suicide, they will probably paint it out that they are the victims, pushing the idea more that they whatever they do is right. And all the perpretrators will continue to have extremely grey morals that could very easily victimize someone else some day. This family's daughter is going to grow up an ambiguously moraled nightmare.
I'm sure what they are getting fed is, "It's okay, you are a good person with good intentions and this girl who killed herself was troubled and now that she's dead life is for the living, so you hold your head up high knowing you are good".
Okay, I'm rambling now. But geez, the stuff you read everyday...