Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 5, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press saturday August 5, 2006 Canada a7 diabetic who blamed tragedy on sugar is convicted by Tara Brautigam s t. Johns . ? a diabetic Newfoundland Man who argued he blacked out from the sugar ? and not the alcohol ? in his rum and Colas while behind the wheel killing a 15?year-old boy was convicted yesterday of hit and run. The highly unusual defence coupled with the tragic manner in which Matthew Churchill died infuriated parents throughout the province since the deadly Accident of More than a year ago. Robert Parsons had consumed three mixed drinks of rum and cola poured freehand at a friends House in Portugal Cove a suburb North of St. Johns on March 28, 2005. Parsons drank 1.3 litres of cola mixed with six ounces of rum the equivalent of four shots court heard. The former military police officer then drove to a local Branch of the Royal Canadian legion but on the Way struck the teenage victim who was skate boarding at the time. Medical experts said Churchill probably died instantly due to massive head injuries. Parsons who has Type 2 diabetes said the amount of sugar in his drinks Trig gered a stupor so severe he was Ren dered into a state of altered conscious Ness and was unaware he hit Churchill despite extensive damage to the body and Windshield of his car. The 55-year-old, who then continued driving to the legion to play video lot Tery terminals said his actions were involuntary and therefore he should be acquitted. It was just too ridiculous to even comprehend and it really turned my Stom Ach said the victims father Rod Churchill after the verdict. This whole trial has been nothing More than just rubbing Salt in the wound. That a the Way i Felt right from the judge David Orr did not accept Par sons was suffering from such a Selec Tive state of unconsciousness that he could continue driving his car negotiating Steep Hills and wide turns along the Way and fail to notice his Windshield was broken. The courtroom erupted in cheers after Orr read the verdict with one of Churchill a friends Yelling i Hope you Churchill then walked towards Par sons who remained silent hoisting a portrait of his son in his face. He has to walk through the rest of his life with everybody All the general pub Lic in Newfoundland looking at him and saying look that a the Guy that killed Matthew Churchill said later. The lawyer for Parsons said he was disappointed with the ruling. It is not the verdict i hoped for Bob Simmonds said outside court. Parsons convicted of failing to remain at the scene of an Accident will be sentenced sept. 29. He was not charged with driving under the influence because police could not determine his blood alcohol level by the time he turned him self in the following Day. ? Canadian press Harper urges support for softwood Deal with . Industry has had several weeks to mull us in duties paid by Canadian firms by Mike de Souza this Over and in the next couple of weeks since the dispute began in 2001. The total Well be asking them to reach a final con returns Are $400,000 higher than an ear Cornwall ont. ? the conservative Lier government estimate. But the Deal government could be forced to abandon Harper also confirmed comments requires the support of 95 per cent of its softwood lumber Deal with the . Made earlier this week by International the Canadian firms which paid the within a few of weeks if it does to have Trade minister David Emerson that the duties and it also requires the firms to the required support from the Canad government would seek Industry sup drop any Law suits against the . Gov an Industry and provincial governments port before bringing the Deal to a vote Ern ment. Prime minister Stephen Harper warned in the House of commons where the right now Industry associations in yesterday. Opposition parties holds the majority. B.c., Quebec Ontario and Alberta As but following a summer Retreat for his but Harper stressed that no one has Sug Well As the . Government oppose the conservative caucus Harper said he tested the new Deal has departed from Deal on the table. Emerson said he will still believed that the provinces and the original agreement or surrendered try to explain the benefits of the Deal Industry representatives would come on any advantages for the Canadian Indus and what sat stake if it is abandoned Board to save the Deal since most of try. When he meets with 24 Industry leaders them supported the original agreement in fact i think if anything it next week. In principle reached last april. Enhanced that original agreement and in mid july Emerson had said the Deal it is infinitely better than pursuing i believe that the same support remains would come to a vote in the House of litigation for Many More years without today that we had originally Harper commons regardless of whether it had any recourse to a negotiated settlement said. Industry support. He said. Those Are the choices so we be the july 1 Deal would return $4.4 Bil got to make those choices soon. The lion us out of the More than $5 billion ? can West news service ;