There were no guarantees. Of course, we were all optimistic, but as I walked into the courtroom that day, no one could be certain of the outcome. We stood up as the judge entered. As we sat down again - myself behind my able attorney John Conroy - my wife, friends and supporters in the audience, silently awaiting my fate (and the fate of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society) - the judge announced that he was going to read the entire legal decision aloud.

[continues 2225 words]