NO JAIL IN SON'S DRUG DEATH

Addict Dad Who Left Deadly Methadone In Fridge Spared By Judge

A father convicted of manslaughter after his son died from drinking
methadone-laced orange juice has been punished enough and doesn't need to go
to jail, a judge ruled yesterday.

Justice Charles Vaillancourt sentenced Ron Hariczuk, 45, to two years less a
day for the death of six-year-old Rene Williams.

Vaillancourt said despite Hariczuk's 29-year criminal record, he is not
dangerous and will be allowed to serve a conditional sentence in the
community to continue his drug treatment.

"He has lost his son. The guilt and remorse will haunt him the rest of his
life," Vaillancourt said, adding Hariczuk was "extremely remorseful although
he did not express it in open court" and has attempted suicide twice since
the boy's death on Jan. 17, 1998.

However, the boy's mom, Yvonne Williams, was outraged with Vaillancourt's
decision.

"He fooled me, he fooled my family and he fooled the judge," Williams said.
"It's like the day my son died all over again."

In April, Vaillancourt found the former heroin junkie criminally negligent
after Hariczuk mixed his methadone with Sunny Delight orange drink and left
it in the fridge. His son drank a lethal dose of the opiate derivative used
to help heroin addicts kick their habit.

"Ironically, the drug that killed his son holds the key to saving his
(life)," said Vaillancourt. The judge noted traces of cocaine, marijuana and
alcohol were found in Hariczuk's urine tests, but commended him for not
allowing his son's death to cause a major heroin relapse. Hariczuk also was
recently charged with three criminal offences, including assault.

Williams wanted Hariczuk to serve five to 10 years behind bars. She said
she wants an appeal of the sentence.

Outside court, Hariczuk said he's suffered enough. "I lost a little boy and
so did she," he said. "People think I have no remorse. I cry about my little
boy every day. It's not fair that people dump all over me."