Gay man's killer
free after two years

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)