Baron family testifies at inquest | FlamboroughReview.com

By Catherine O?Hara, REVIEW STAFF

?We screwed up, we screwed up.?

Those are the words Jesse Baron woke up to at his Waterdown home on June 6, 2010. His younger brother Kyle, 18 at the time, had just discovered his friend?s lifeless body on the living room floor.

The friend was Christopher Skinner, a bright student and talented musician who during the evening of June 5 and early morning hours of June 6 consumed a deadly amount of alcohol at two parties.

In his testimony during a coroner?s inquest into the 17-year-old Flamborough boy?s death, Jesse explained that drinking ? sometimes in excess ? took place on several occasion at his home. On the night of Skinner?s death, his parents were home.

The Waterdown household has been described as ?a party house,? something both Baron boys confirmed was an accurate representation.

On at least three occasions, teens had passed out from binge drinking at the home. During those times, a hazing game was played that included partygoers drawing on the intoxicated youths with markers. Skinner, too, was submitted to such treatment; he also had his ankles bound with duct tape and CDs stacked on his head.

The Baron boys say it was all in good fun, a prank that instigated a few good laughs. But when asked by the Coroner?s Crown Karen Shea if they thought this to be funny today, both said no.

While Jesse, 21, has since cut down on his drinking following Skinner?s death, the tragic loss of a young life full of potential hasn?t impacted Kyle.

?It didn?t really change the way I act,? said Kyle. ?We all still party, we still drink.?

The five-person jury selected to pen recommendations to prevent similar deaths wondered if liquor licence act reforms could help curb binge drinking among youth.

Kyle said that, while parents would probably be more cautious when it came to hosting parties where underage drinking is taking place, he said teens will continue to drink if they chose.

Increased fines, between $500 and $1,000, were proposed at Thursday?s inquest. But Kyle suggested that teens who are slapped with such a fine would be unable to pay it. The penalty would ultimately affect parents? pocketbooks.

Dr. Jack Stanborough is presiding over the inquest, which resumes this afternoon with testimony from other Baron family members.

Source: http://www.flamboroughreview.com/news/baron-families-testifies-at-inquest/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baron-families-testifies-at-inquest

jimmy rollins jimmy rollins let it snow jason trawick jerry lewis tampa bay bucs cowboys