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, N-R Writer

LAWYERS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON TRIAL'S OUTCOME

"If you want to traffic in drugs come to Yorkton. It is wide open," 
commented Kim Walker's defence attorney Morris Bodnar after a 12 
member jury found his client guilty of second degree murder.

"In this case there was no help being given to a parent whose child 
was addicted to drugs."

Bodnar suggests, the Walkers did everything they could to change the 
situation with their daughter, from talking to the child, to 
contacting the police to getting a mental health order.

"Nothing was done and then they have to take other steps to try and 
extricate her from a drug den," he states, adding he feels there are 
good grounds for appeal that will be filed as a result of how the 
trial took place.

"One is not putting the defence of self defence to the jury; the 
other is the ruling made today when not guilty was not left open for 
the jury  that's just two, there will be a few others."

Before being led away in handcuffs by police, Bodnar says his client 
seemed calm. It was some degree of certainty after living for four 
years not knowing what the future would hold for him.

"I must say I am very disappointed in the decision," Bodnar 
concluded, adding the likelihood of getting bail for his client up 
until the court of appeal hears the case is unlikely given the circumstances.

Crown prosecutor Daryl Bode says he is satisfied with the decision of the jury.

"It took them time to do it. They did their job and did it well," Bode says.

"They stuck to the information put to them and came back with a 
decision that in the Crown's opinion was the right decision."

The jury had the option of First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder 
or manslaughter to consider.

The option of an acquittal was removed at the start of the trial, a 
path that nearly saw a mistrial called the night before.

"I maintain the judge did the right thing in her charge to the jury. 
She must have thought so because she stayed that course, to let the 
jury go through its natural decision making process."

The possibility of bail for Walker is a reality, Bode comfirms. 
However, it is not something that is heard at the local level and 
will be decided upon in Regina.

"I hope the community sees justice was done and that we have, as I 
said at the close of the Crown's case, we have a first class justice 
system and it didn't fail anyone," Bode concludes.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine