WAS MURDER A FATHER'S ONLY CHOICE? ONE PERSON'S VIEW

Kim Walker's 16-year-old daughter was addicted to morphine and living
with a 24-year-old convicted drug dealer. He was desperate to get his
daughter the help she needed. He and his wife went so far as to
commit their daughter to a hospital against her will. They held her
for only three days, not long enough to overcome her addiction.

The system failed the Walker family. And according to friends and
family, that failure led Walker to do the unthinkable - to take a gun
and kill his daughter's boyfriend.

James Hayward was shot five times, including once in the back. He
died on a winter's day in March 2003. His family is devastated by the
loss. They believe they could have helped him overcome his drug
addiction, if only they had been given the chance. He should have
been given more help with his drug problems when he faced drug
trafficking charges prior to the shooting. The system failed James Hayward.

In this David versus Goliath trial, Walker has been portrayed as a
salt-of-the-earth -father, trying to do good by his daughter. The
victim's family is disgusted at the fact Walker has been made into a
small-town hero. Friends of Walker proclaim he was simply protecting
his family.

Last week, the 50-year-old father was found guilty of second-degree
murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence. The jury has
recommended he be eligible for parole in 10 years.

This case has divided citizens in the city of Yorkton, Sask.,
population 17,000.

Did Walker go too far to protect his daughter? Some would agree with
Walker's decision, however the extent of Walker's action needs to be
questioned.

Hayward was shot not once, not twice, but five times. With at least
one shot in the back, you can conclude one of two things. The first,
Walker shot Wayward as he was running away after being shot the first
four times or the second, Wayward was not facing his shooter when the
first shot was fired. Either way, it seems Walker's actions were a bit extreme.

"He did what he had to do," said his daughter, as Walker was led away
to begin serving his jail sentence. "He saved my life."

Without a doubt, the system failed both men. It failed Walker when he
wanted to help his daughter. After three days, she simply walked away
from the hospital back into the arms of her boyfriend. There needs to
be more help available for families in these situations. There has to
be a better answer than picking up a gun and shooting someone.

The system failed Wayward. He should have got more help when he was
convicted on drug charges. He could have been reformed. He could have
kicked his habit. He could have turned his life around.

Walker will have the next 10 years in prison to think about his
decision to end Wayward's life. He can find solace in knowing his
daughter believes he saved her from a certain drug-addict's death.
And while the Wayward family will never know what could have come of
James's life, perhaps they can find their own peace of mind in
knowing that James is finally at peace.