CRIMINAL ACT FOLLOWED BY CALLOUS DISREGARD

Darnell Pratt is the kind of guy for whom prisons were built.

We don't need more jails to house people who grow marijuana or commit
a break and enter or rob a bank out of addiction-fuelled desperation.

We need to instead ensure our prisons are housing people like Darnell Pratt.

The 21-year-old is a killer who obviously does not have a clue as to
how his actions have devastated the family and friends of his victim,
Grant De Patie.

The 24-year-old Maple Ridge gas-station attendant was dragged to his
death by Pratt in March 2005.

Pratt was driving a stolen car and had put 12 bucks in its tank when
he drove away without paying.

De Patie tried to stop him, but Pratt sped away, dragging De Patie
for seven kilometres.

Pratt has already been granted break after break.

His original charge of second-degree murder was reduced to manslaughter.

He then had the gall to appeal an already lenient nine-year sentence
and had it reduced to seven years - one year for every kilometre he
dragged De Patie to his death.

Then, last week, Pratt was released from prison and ordered to reside
in a halfway house here in Kamloops.

He managed to follow the clearcut rules and stay one night before
failing to meet curfew on his second night at the home.

Pratt was then arrested on the weekend while walking down a street in
North Kamloops.

It says here he will be back in that halfway house following a review
by his parole officer.

Only in Canada can you strike out repeatedly and still hit a home run.