TRIAL TOLD OF DAD'S 'BURDEN': OD KILLED SON

Methadone was supposed to help Ron Hariczuk be a better father --
tragically, it killed his son, his lawyer told court yesterday.

But in closing arguments, the Crown charged Hariczuk's reckless use of
methadone was "an invitation to disaster."

Defence lawyer Glen Wilson said the methadone poisoning death of Rene
Williams, 6, is a mark Hariczuk will bear for the rest of his life.

"This boy's father was trying to turn his life around and be someone to his
son. And the instrument of that turnaround was methadone. And methadone
took his son away," Wilson said.

"Ron will carry the heavy burden of knowing he played a role in Rene's
death ... He ought not to bear criminal responsibility."

Williams died on June 17, 1998 apparently after drinking his father's
cocktail of Sunny Delight orange drink mixed with methadone -- a powerful
drug used to wean addicts off heroin. Hariczuk, 44, has pleaded not guilty
to manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide
the necessities of life.

Wilson said the evidence showed Hariczuk had warned his son to stay away
from his medication, which was kept in the fridge door. Circumstantial
evidence suggests the boy awoke during the night, went to the fridge and
helped himself to the tainted juice.

Crown attorney David Wright said keeping methadone pre-mixed in a Sunny
Delight container -- Hariczuk acknowledged it was his son's favorite drink
- -- was "an invitation to disaster."

Judge Charles Vaillancourt said he will render a decision in the case April
12.