Aaron Webster killer's release raises hackles

Concern expressed that Ryan Cran may be back on the streets after serving four years for manslaughter.

Long-time gay activist Jim Deva can’t forgive the man convicted of manslaughter in the 2001 Stanley Park beating death of Aaron Webster.

“Ryan Cran’s a piece of shit,” Deva, co-owner of Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium, said in a phone interview with the Georgia Straight. “I don’t spend much time thinking about him or his life, but it’s getting a message out that this sort of activity is absolutely inappropriate, and a broader message that you’re not protected when you do this—you get nailed. And our community is there to watch that you get nailed.”

Then 19, Cran was the only person sentenced in adult court when the B.C. Supreme Court issued the manslaughter verdict on February 8, 2005, ruling out a hate-based crime based on Webster’s sexual orientation. Cran, now in his late 20s, was sentenced to six years for his role in Webster’s death. Two other youths were sentenced in juvenile court.

Patrick Storey, media spokesperson at the National Parole Board, Pacific region, told the Straight that Cran is eligible for statutory release on February 7. However, he said that Cran is “likely” to be released a couple of days earlier as part of an “early discretionary release” to allow Cran to meet the parole supervisor to whom he must report immediately after release and until his sentence expires on February 7, 2011.

Deva said he and others in the LGBT communities have “a few concerns” that Cran will soon be back on the streets after just four years. In talking about those concerns, Deva served notice to anyone thinking about attempting a reenactment of 2001.

“Hopefully, when these people saunter down half drunk off of Granville Street, maybe they will have a second thought about what they are doing,” Deva said of would-be gay bashers. “That’s my overall concern, that the general public get the message that we are not open for assault anymore, that we’re not to be on that list anymore.”

Deva added: “When it does happen, we’re going to be on your ass, and we’re going to catch you and follow you through the courts and we’re going to hound you.”

According to NPB release documents obtained by the Straight, Cran had no prior criminal record. On November 17, 2001, Cran drove three of his teenage friends to Stanley Park. The documents state that his car contained baseball bats, a pool cue, and a golf club. The pathologist stated that Webster sustained approximately 13 or 14 wounds from the beating and eventually died as a result of a torn artery in his neck.

While Cran was out on bail, his parents withdrew their surety, documents state, as they were concerned he would not comply with bail conditions. On July 19, 2006, Cran was found intoxicated while visiting other inmates and refused to discuss how he came upon the liquor.

“Maintaining your sobriety is key to your reintegration,” NPB board members Victoria Cattermole and Gordon McRae stated in their January 16 joint statement.

Conditions attached to Cran’s statutory release require one-on-one counselling and prohibit consumption of alcohol, contact with the victim’s family, or contact
with anyone believed to be involved in criminal activity and/or substance misuse.

“He got off with a really light sentence,” Denise Norman, Webster’s cousin, told the Straight by phone. “Our family is pretty upset. It’s a reminder of how light the sentence was.”

Norman, who described her late cousin as a “really super-friendly guy”, said she also worries about Cran’s alcohol consumption. She fears it may get him into trouble again, even though a psychological test carried out in 2005 declared Cran was unlikely to reoffend.

“Alcohol is the number one reason they end up back in jail,” Norman said. “Who will keep an eye on him? I hope he gets a good crowd of people around him. Hopefully, counselling will keep him on the right path.”

Deva said alcohol-fuelled beatings happen far too often in the West End.

“The flavour of the day is people drinking on the Granville Street strip and coming up and beating on gays and lesbians,” he said.

Deva added that he requested of the parole board that Cran meet with members of the LGBT communities to learn of the profound effect Webster’s death has had. Deva claimed he never heard back about his request.