Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2007
Source: News Review, The  (CN SN)
Copyright: 2007 Yorkton News Review
Contact:  http://www.yorktonnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4047
Author: Karl Kopan

WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THIS TRAGEDY

For the last two weeks Yorkton has been at the forefront of a first
degree murder trial that has, if you haven't noticed, caught the
attention of many across our country.

Despite feelings on either side of the issue, now that the radio,
television and print reporters from provincial and national outlets
have left for home, where does it leave Yorkton?

Is our community now a haven for drug dealers as the defence lawyer
for Kim Walker suggested in his comments or was justice served and
residents can now go on with their lives confident in the safety
provided to us?

That is up to you to decide, but I know one thing is for sure, this
trial has been a learning process for many, who up until Mr. Walker
took the actions he did nearly four years ago, thought these kinds of
things didn't go on in our city.

Terms like "mainlining morphine" and "drug dens" were enough to open
the eyes of those who didn't know about this kind of thing.

But the learning didn't stop with those who aren't involved in the
drug scene. Without passing judgement on those who have a lifestyle
that involves illicit drug use, hearing descriptions of a healthy
young man (an award winning body builder in fact) and his girlfriend
who were both withering away because of their drug use should make
them think twice. This is not to mention the many youth who were in
the home when bullets were flying - they could have easily been killed too!

Thank goodness that didn't occur because these individuals - who
were students of both city high schools at the time have now gone on
to meaningful careers. Some said they are now drug free.

Aside from the fact Jadah Walker is alive, healthy and has become a
confident young woman who has overcome her addiction, there is so
little good that comes from this entire situation. Many lives have
been shattered on both sides of this case.

What are residents of the city to think now?

One definitely has to wonder about some of the laws our country has in
place. I can't help but wonder would Mr. Hayward be alive today if
RCMP had more latitude on attaining drug search warrants and had
locked him up for his chosen way to make money?

Addictions are terrible things, and as you read in a few letters from
readers, they fit into many different categories, not just drugs.

However, while there are many things that differ between the two
families affected most by this case there is one similarity - they
both had a family member who was severely addicted.
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