Squamish, British Columbia, 1997: Bob McIntosh went down the street to investigate a rowdy party in the home of friends who were away. He didn't return. The senseless death of this charismatic lawyer, triathlete, and father of five-year-old twins attracted national media attention. So did his widow's pleas for the killer to turn himself in.
Determined not to be victimized further and harbour the same anger that led someone to kick her husband in the head, Katy Hutchison embarked on a remarkable journey of forgiveness. She began a speaking tour, talking to high school students about the consequences of bad decision-making and the importance for each individual to take responsibility for his or her actions. Then, she invited her husband's killer to join her onstage, even while he was still in prison for manslaughter. Although their lives had collided through tragedy, they formed a kind of collegial friendship-and together, could deliver a very powerful message.
Embracing Bob's Killer shows how each person close to the victim was affected-his children, his law partner, and many friends in the community-and how some can forgive, while others cannot. It sheds light on the complexities of restorative justice as well as the nature of forgiveness and the human need to judge even this most "divine" of acts.
