WOMAN GAVE CRACK TO TOT

A Toronto woman was found guilty yesterday of giving a four-year-old boy
crack cocaine, but acquitted of criminal charges for feeding him Ritalin
without a prescription.

"In giving cocaine to (the boy) she was criminally negligent," Justice John
Hamilton said.

"She endangered his life. I find she must have administered the drug to him
... he was certainly not out on the street (buying it)."

Joyce Hayman, 30, was found guilty of criminal negligence and administering
a noxious substance. She was acquitted of similar charges for giving the
boy the prescription drug Ritalin.

Hamilton will sentence her on July 22. A request to revoke her bail until
sentencing was rejected.

Hayman bolted from the courthouse, shielding her face with a coat. During
her trial the admitted cocaine addict fidgeted, rocked, checked her makeup
and chewed bubble gum in the prisoner's dock.

Hamilton found Hayman gave the developmentally delayed child Ritalin to try
to control his hyper and violent behavior, getting the pills from a friend
because she couldn't get a doctor to prescribe them. She testified she felt
they helped the tot.

Hayman, who learned of the drug from TV, knew there were side effects but
didn't know what they were. In May 1996 Hayman told a doctor at the
Hospital for Sick Children about the Ritalin and was then given a
prescription for it at a much lower dose.

"I find the accused never attempted to hide the fact she was giving
Ritalin," said Hamilton, adding she was trying to help the boy and there
was no evidence of bodily harm.

Hamilton said it wasn't until that visit to the doctor that Hayman was told
she was giving a "dangerous dosage."

He said there's no evidence that the doses of Ritalin she gave the boy from
then on were greater than prescribed by the doctor.

Tests, however, found "enormously high" levels of cocaine in the child,
which Hayman suggested came from "the air."

Hamilton ruled out second-hand smoke, saying the drug had been ingested and
the "only logical conclusion" is Hayward gave it to him.

Copyright (c) 1998, Canoe Limited Partnership.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)