SENIOR'S DRUG SENTENCE 'A DAMN SHAME'

Some of Ed Shaw's supporters say they would have done the same thing in his
shoes.

Despite maintaining his innocence, the 76-year-old Kingston man, who's
dedicated his life to helping others in Belize and Mexico, pleaded guilty
Tuesday to drug charges in Louisiana.

Arrested in October 2001 with three others after police found cocaine and
weapons in the vehicle they were riding in, Shaw was sentenced to seven
years in jail. Had he gone to trial and been found guilty, he would have
faced decades in prison.

"He chose the safer route," said Wilfred Sorensen, who's known Shaw for
more than 50 years. "I probably would have done the same, even being
innocent. Who wants to spend the rest of their life in jail?"

Supporters say he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"It's a damn shame," Sorensen said. "It's a miscarriage of justice."

Shaw's cousin Kat Williams of Perth agrees.

"He didn't believe in drugs. He didn't let any of the kids (he worked with)
smoke."

Williams admits she was surprised by the plea. Just days ago a letter from
Shaw gave no hint of his plan.

"He didn't say much about himself, (except) that it was getting to be time
for him to get out of there. He's got medical problems too," she said.
"(But) he's very positive. He's Buddhist. He can adapt to any situation."