by Rich Peters
365Gay.com Newscenter, Vancouver
Aaron Webster was found in Stanley Park Saturday morning wearing only his hiking boots.
Police say he was beaten to death with a baseball bat or pool cue, his body left at the side of the road in the popular cruising area.
Vancouver Police appealed Monday for those who were involved to turn themselves in, but admit they have few clues in the killing.
Four witnesses have come forward, but only two of them actually saw the killers. Police believe four men may have been involved.
The main assailant is described as white and in his early twenties. He was wearing dark clothing and had a baseball hat on backwards.
The assault likely took less than two minutes, Det. Scott Driemel said.
Driemel said that it is unlikely the suspects will return because of the attention the case has received, however he warned the gay community to be cautious.
"We have no idea whether it was a premeditated event that they went specifically out to do something like this or whether it was sparked by some sort of an encounter that then resulted in one of them winding up and using some sort of instrument to cause the lethal blow."
Either way, Driemel said the case was being investigated as a hate-crime.
In a tragic twist of fate, it was Webster's best friend who found him lying near death at the side of road.
Tim Chisholm, a disc jockey at the Dufferin Pub, said he spent a couple of hours with Webster at the bar on Friday. When Webster left the bar, Chisholm said he had no idea he was heading to the park.
"He was a wonderful photographer," said Deborah Weber. "I loved him very much as a friend. With his kindness and generosity of spirit, I couldn't help but love him."
He also served as the chairman of the Cityview Co-Op where he lived. A friend, Lisa Valencia-Svensson remembers him as "a very gentle soul."
Webster worked at a General Paint store where customers said he was conscientious and helpful.
Budget cuts recently reduced the province's police hate crimes squad. British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said Monday he would discuss with police ways to improve awareness of hate crimes. Government
"We always have to be talking to people about tolerance," Campbell said. "Violence is not tolerable. We have to be very clear that because people are different doesn't mean that we will react violently toward them."
http://365gay.com/newscontent/111901VanMurder.htm
Hate-Crime Killing In
Vancouver
by Rich
Peters
365Gay.com Newscenter, Vancouver
(November 19, Vancouver) The badly beaten naked body of a Vancouver man, found in a popular cruising area has the city's gay community anxious and angry.
The body of 41 year old Aaron Webster was found near the Bridle Path in Stanley park on the weekend. Police say he had been hit repeatedly in the head and upper body with what police say was a baseball bat or a pool cue by at least three men.
Investigators are treating the killing as a hate-crime.
"This has all the earmarks of an attack that was prompted by the man's sexual orientation," said Vancouver police spokesman Det. Scott Dreimal.
Sunday afternoon more than 18-hundrred members of Vancouver's gay community marched to protest violence. Among the marchers were gay Liberal Member of the Legislature Lorne Mayencourt and Vancouver's police chief.
Mayencourt said he too had been the victim of a gay bashing.
"We will neither forget Aaron and the horrific way in which he died nor will we be silent in our grief and outrage," said Reverend John Newcombe of St. John's United Church.
Dr. Bill Coleman, a forensic psychologist and well known gay leader, said the community is reacting to the attack with "shock, horror, fear and anger.
"Vancouver has the reputation of being a very safe place and it surprises people when something like this happens," said Coleman.
Witnesses reported seeing a man being hit with a baseball bat near Second Beach just after 2:30 a.m. But, Sgt. Bob Cooper of the homicide squad said police more need help in finding the killers.
"It was dark and the lighting was not good," Cooper said. "We are hoping that someone driving through the park might have seen something in their headlights."
Webster was wearing only his hiking boots when his body was discovered. His clothes have not been found.
Cooper said the brutality of the attack indicates "an extreme hatred of homosexuals." He said that until the killers are caught gays should be on guard about their surroundings and stay out of dark trails in the park.
Vancouver went through a rash of vicious gay bashings in the early 1990s. In 1992, Steve Macklin, who was then 27 was almost killed in an attack by three men in almost the same way Webster was killed.
It took eight metal plates and 38 screws to rebuild Macklin's face. No one was ever charged.
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