Former SLIK TOXIK Bassist Stays Out Of Jail

October 26, 2004

Julio Gomes of The Chronicle-Journal is reporting that an Ontario Court judge gave former SLIK TOXIK bassist Patrick Howarth something of a break last Friday (Oct. 22) after being convinced that the award-winning musician has kicked his addiction and is on the road to a better life.

In suspending the passing of a sentence, Justice Dino Di Giuseppe applauded Howarth's efforts to overcome personal demons and try to resurrect his musical career.

"The sentence I propose will not interfere with that ambition and drive," the judge said.

"However, Mr. Howarth must bear responsibility for his conduct, and there must be a consequence for that conduct."

Howarth had earlier been convicted on two counts of forging medical prescriptions and two counts of failing to attend court.

At Friday's sentencing hearing, defence counsel Leon Nicol outlined Howarth's fall from grace.

After winning a Juno Award with hard rock band SLIK TOXIK for their 1992 album "Doin' the Nasty", things fell apart for Howarth after he crashed a limousine at a post-Juno Awards party. He was kicked out of the band, and many of his belongings, including equipment and pictures, were stolen.

Back in Thunder Bay, he had his jaw broken in an assault and became addicted to the painkillers OxyContin and Percocet.

"He went into the depths of despair," Nicol said.

Since then, he's become engaged and his fiancee is expecting a child. He's also working on new songs and re-establishing contacts in the music industry. Read more.

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