Bounty On Heads Of Aaron's Killers
by Rich Peters
365Gay.com Newscenter, Vancouver

(November 26, Vancouver) Despite interviewing a dozen witnesses and tracking down several tips called in to a hot line, Vancouver police say they are still far from catching the killers of Aaron Webster.

The naked body of the 41 year old man was found in Stanley Park more than a week ago, and investigators fear the trail for the four men who killed him is growing cold.

Webster was beaten to death with a baseball bat or poll cue in what police have labelled a hate-crime. If the killers are caught and convicted, prosecuting them under Canada's hate crimes law will add years to their sentences.

Police believe the key to finding those responsible for the killing lies with the accomplices. Only one man wielded the weapon, while the others watched yelling homophobic epithets, according to witnesses.

In an effort to convince the accomplices to turn in the actual killed, Vancouver's gay community has begun raising money for a reward.

The Justice For Aaron Webster Fund has been set up through VanCity Credit Union and donations can be made at any branch.

The trust account was created by Jim Deva the owner of Little Sisters bookstore.

"Aaron's death has affected our community deeply," said Deva. "We want to put this money in the right direction to make sure a tragic death like this doesn't happen again."

Deva and other community leaders said they hope to raise at least $10,000 toward a reward for anyone providing police with information that leads to a murder conviction. If the money is not used as a reward, it will then be used to deal with violence in the community.

Services Remember Hate-Crime Victim
by Jan Prout
365Gay.com Newscenter in Toronto

(November 26) Memorial services were in Vancouver and Toronto on the weekend to remember Aaron Webster, the British Columbia man who was murdered in a Vancouver park November 17.

About 200 people attended the service at Saint John's United Church in Vancouver's West End, Saturday.

"We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss in the death of Aaron Webster," said Reverend Brad Newcombe. "And we come asking that God might grant us grace; that in pain we might find comfort, sorrow, hope and in death, the light of eternal life."

Webster's murder has rocked the city's gay community to the core, and has touched gays across Canada.

In Toronto, A candlelight vigil drew nearly 200 people Saturday evening to Cawthra Park in the city's Gay Village.

Organizer Karen Baldwin of The Anti-Violence Programme at the 519 Community Centre, said Webster "may have gone to Stanley park to seek companionship, but he did not go looking for hate."

Another speaker, long time activist Tom Warner, said: "his death is a reminder that so much needs to be done to end homophobia."

"We have to stay strong to be visible, speak up, make demands and bring about changes," Warner said.

Toronto police Constable Judy Nosworthy, liaison officer with the city's gay and lesbian community, and a 365Gay.com columnist, called the killing "brutal and shocking."

"We have lost a brother, and we have to make sure it doesn't happen again," Nosworthy said.

"I feel sorrow and anger," said Helen Knight, of PFLAG, who has a lesbian daughter. "It could be my own child. Things have changed, but this [attack] set everything back 10 years."