News
2005-12-02
Gay man's killer
free after two years
Canada sets
killer of gay man free after only two years because he was
19 at the time of the murder.
Aft
After serving
just two years in jail, a Vancouver, Canada, man who
beat a gay man to death was released on Wednesday. The
judge is urging the dead man's family to forgive the
killer, The Canadian Press reports.
Judge Valmond Romilly of the provincial youth
court said the 21-year-old man—whose name was
not released because he was a minor at the time of
incarceration—needs help as he enters adulthood, the
Press reported. The man's release is mandatory
and allows him to serve the last third of his sentence in
the community. He was convicted of manslaughter in the
2001 death of 41-year-old Aaron Webster, who was
killed in a park.
"The sole preoccupation at this stage should be
to help the youth, who committed a terrible offense
while still a youth," Romilly said.
Fred Norman, Webster's cousin, told reporters
that "two years isn't long enough. It's gone way too
fast. In this young man's case it should be a little
bit longer sentence for a human life."
While in jail the man completed all educational
programs and counseling programs. He has been given a
10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and must stay away from
alcohol and weapons, including golf clubs and baseball bats.
He also must attend school on a regular basis, the
Press reported.
Norman doesn't believe the offender has been
rehabilitated, adding, however, "This is
something he's going to have to live with for the rest
of his life. He put his family through hell." (Advocate.com)
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