Updated: Sun Feb. 01 2009 12:30:26

ctvbc.ca

The B.C. justice system is coming under sharp criticism after news that the man found guilty of a notorious killing will get out of jail early.

Ryan Cran took part in the attack that ended the life of Aaron Webster eight years ago. He's only served two-thirds of his sentence for manslaughter, but is expected to be released this week.

The news has outraged Webster's family, who say they want changes to a system they say isn't tough enough.

"He should be in jail for 25 years to life," says Webster's cousin Denise Norman. "He's killed somebody, he's getting out a young man, and he'll be in his mid-twenties."

In November 2001, Aaron Webster was savagely beaten in Stanley Park with bats and golf clubs by a 19-year-old Cran and a group of young men. It was near an area known as a gay stroll.

When Cran was sentenced in 2004, the justice system came under fire. In what was described as a "cowardly and terrifying act," he was sentenced to six years in prison.

Next week, Cran will be a free man -- two years shy of his full sentence because he's eligible for statutory release. If the court prosecuted the murder as a hate crime it could have meant a longer sentence.

"The hate crime legislation is there, why are these people so cowardly to apply it?" Webster's sister Pamela Miller asked in 2005.

The judge ruled there was no evidence before the court that Webster was targeted because he was gay. But four years later, the system is being questioned again.

"Get rid of this statutory release. And if you're going to continue with statutory release, put some restrictions on them that mean something," says Norman.

Community advocates agree.

"I want to know that he's fit and able to function in society without that form of violence, he expressed in that brutal murder of our friend Aaron Webster," says Jim Deva.

Deva wrote a letter to the parole board raising his concerns, but never heard back. The advocate is desperate for answers.

"Will he be walking up and down Davie St. in the next week or two? That would be problematic for his own safety and our community's safety," says Deva.

"He's very well known in our community. He's known, and feared and loathed."

Deva says Cran has never apologized for the crime.

Under the release conditions, Ryan Cran will have to live, work or go to school in the New Westminster area. He will not be allowed to travel without special permission.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's St. John Alexander

Comments are now closed for this story

Judy E
Why does New Westminster always get stuck with criminals being released from prison?

Arnold Tracey
Sometimes the justice system is a joke. A person who robs a bank or two can end up spending more time in jail then the person who goes out and kills somebody. What will it take for the justice system to wake up? For this guy to go out and do again. There's something wrong with this picture.

Paul Chilliwack B.C.
Once again the criminal justice system has failed the honest citizens.

I am beginning to get the feeling that honest citizens are legitimate targets of criminals and that way lawyers get to make money....

Concerned citizen, Chilliwack, B.C.

Sean
The life of a gay man is still worth nothing, it seems.

Of course, with our justice system, life itself is worth very little.

Don in Kelowna
No country can should assign jail terms according to the kind of person that is killed. This victim was stalked & killed & the killer should have received 25 years in jail.

I am not alone in being disgusted with the Canadian injustice system & fear that if only criminals are protected & citizens cannot be protected by legal means, other avenues will be explored & ultimately, anarchy could prevail.

Disgusted!
What the hell is going on with our justice system?
Why on earth is this man getting our of jail?

Why was he only sentenced to 6 years to begin with?
He is OBVIOUSLY a danger to society. That's what a murder conviction means right?

And regardless of wether this was a hate crime, he should be locked up for at least 25 years anyway.
THAT is an appropriate sentence for an unprovoked violent attack resulting in murder.

I am sick and tired of living in a society that is too cheap to house violent criminals.

Or is it a society that feels more compassion for violent people than the victims?

I'd like to fire the judge who thought 6 years was an appropriate sentence.

And the parole board who thinks that's too much by 2 years.

I'm thoroughly disgusted with our justice system. And am seriously considering leaving a province and country that is this backwards!

I want my 9 year old son to live in a moral and safer society.

Shirley
What's wrong with our justice system? This disgusting character should be behind bars for a long, long time. I don't like the way he combs his hair...should he be murdered for this?

Frank Berger
What else is new. the cops break their necks to catch the criminals the judges let them walk. "Suspect is known to police" "repeat offender", the system "educates" them that they will get away with minimal punishment.

Adrian
If there is a chance that he can contribute to society isn't that better than paying to house and clothe him in prison for many more years?

barb dawson
The Canadian Justice System is a Big Joke and the whole World knows that. Where else on this planet can a person drive down, abuse kids sexually, murder their spouses, and beat to death another human being for their lifestyle; and then we get a police force that can't seem to do any better to arrest them.

And then after spending thousands of dollars to prosecute them; they either walk away, spend time at home for house arrest and at the most extreme (this the ridiculous part) spend 2 years less a day in jail. How embarrassing and what a welcome mat to bent people who prey upon the weak!!