JUDGE DELAYS SENTENCING ELDERLY CRACK COCAINE DEALER

MERVYN YULE should be enjoying the golden years of his retirement, but
the 68-year-old Winnipegger is waiting to find out if he's going to
prison after pleading guilty to selling crack cocaine out his North
End home.

He is believed to be one of the oldest drug dealers ever arrested in
the city.

Yule, who retired from general labour work at the age of 65, found
himself deep in debt and unable to catch up with his $1,400 monthly
pension, said defence lawyer Hope Buset.

"This is a very sad and desperate situation," she said.

Yule appeared in court Thursday, expecting to learn his fate.
Provincial court Judge Sid Lerner put off his verdict because he wants
to know more about Yule's failing health.

Buset said her client has suffered multiple heart attacks, undergone
three spinal surgeries and is experiencing complications from diabetes.

Yule also has difficulty walking, thanks to a severe beating he took
last fall from his angry drug suppliers following his arrest, said
Buset.

"That was the most obvious wake-up call to him. He was physically
punished and scared for his life," she said.

Police seized more than 100 rocks of crack from inside Yule's home
after acting on a tip and obtaining a search warrant last September.

Buset said several neighbourhood associates approached Yule with the
idea of selling drugs for them -- an offer he foolishly accepted.

Yule's only previous brush with the law occurred in 1961 and involved
a weapons charge, court was told.

Buset is seeking a conditional sentence for her client, who has a
Grade Three education and virtually no friends or family.

Crown attorney Jeremy Ackerstream is seeking a two-year sentence and
took no position on whether it should be served in jail or the community.