CANADA'S RAVE SCENE UNDER MICROSCOPE AS INQUEST STARTS INTO
PARTICIPANT'S DEATH

Man took ecstasy: Toronto wants ban but some fear dangers could move
underground

TORONTO - An inquest began here yesterday that will put the city's rave
scene, one of the largest in the world, under intense public scrutiny for
the next several weeks.

The inquest concerns the death of Allan Ho, 21, a university student who
died last fall after attending an all-night party held at an underground
parking garage and consuming the drug Ecstasy.

Debate over whether raves should be allowed in Toronto has reached fever
pitch in recent days. Both the mayor and police chief want to ban the
events (Chief Julian Fantino called raves are a "threat to the very fabric
of Canadian life"), but advocates have argued repeatedly that banning raves
will drive them back underground into illegal, dangerous venues.

Those connected with the scene say a movement back to such venues, ones
that don't comply with a safety protocol passed by city council shortly
after Mr. Ho's death, is already underway.

Coroner's counsel Paul McDermott told the jury yesterday that Mr. Ho was an
"ordinary young man" who lived with his mother and two brothers.

"He was a good son to his mother, he was a law-abiding young man. His life
will not be the subject of a great deal of evidence," he said.

Indeed, much of the cross-examination yesterday quickly turned to broader
issues concerning the promotion, policing, ticketing and regulation of
raves, subjects that are to be the focus of the hearing.

It will also examine eight other Ecstasy-related deaths that occurred in
Ontario last year. Most of those deaths did not involve raves, nor did most
involve the consumption of Ecstasy alone. Any recommendations the coroner's
jury makes cannot lay blame, and are non-binding.

Henry Wong, an acquaintance of Mr. Ho, told the jury that although he did
not go to the rave with Mr. Ho, he did come across the stricken man about
3:30 a.m. as he was lying on the floor of the parking garage. Mr Ho was
shaking, his eyes were closed and his fists tightly clenched, and he did
not respond when Mr. Wong yelled his name repeatedly. "He was in a weird
position, he kept moving his arms up and down," Mr. Wong said.

With the help of a security guard, Mr. Wong carried his friend outside,
where he was attended by paramedics hired by the event's promoter. Mr. Ho
was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he died in a critical care unit
15 hours later.