It was a life-altering tragedy. Should it have gone to trial?

Plus, the Raptors play the lottery, selling your cottage to avoid capital gains, and remembering unsung Leafs hero Ron Ellis [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Happy Mother’s Day to those celebrating the occasion, and my thoughts with those for whom this day brings complicated feelings. A reminder to anyone scrambling to get to brunch reservations that [Yonge Street will be a bit of a headache this morning due to the annual Sporting Life 10K](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star Justice [Her baby’s death was an utter tragedy. Did it have to be a crime, too?]( Lindsay Hewson’s 14-month-old son died after ingesting a mix of illicit drugs, presumably left by the couple they had been staying with during the pandemic, reports Jacques Gallant. Despite a judge’s rare suggestion that it wasn’t in the public interest to proceed, the Crown went to trial anyway, forcing grieving parents to rehash the worst day of their lives for three years. [The result: no criminal record for Hewson, no jail time, and a justice community asking itself what was the point]( Paul Kane/Getty Images Sports [How today’s NBA draft lottery works and who the Raptors might select if they keep their pick]( Though the Toronto Raptors have long been eliminated from title contention, there’s a lot at stake today. The Dinos have the sixth-best odds at landing the top overall selection in today’s NBA draft lottery but could also lose their pick if it falls below No. 6. Doug Smith breaks down [how this year’s top prospects would fit into the organization’s current needs if all goes well](. Danielle Burton HIV/AIDS [To escape its deadly epidemic, this country must conquer its history]( In Eswatini, a tiny nation that’s completely landlocked within South Africa, one in three adults has HIV, the highest rate in the world. Women between 15 to 24 are three times likelier to contract the virus as males the same age, Katharine Lake Berz reports. While Eswatini has fought the virus vigorously, [combatting ancient traditions that protect and sometimes encourage dangerous sexual activities has proven to be a difficult task](. Yoronto Star file photo Personal Finance [Worried about a capital gains crunch at the cottage? You might be able to keep it in the family]( If you were looking to divest from a secondary residence such as a cottage before Canada’s new capital gains rules come into effect on June 25, Srivindhya Kolluru writes that there are a few things to consider. For one, estate planning experts suggest considering designating the cottage as a principal residence if it qualifies. [Here’s what else you should consider](. Supplied Motherhood [On a bittersweet trip through Ireland, a mother tries to accept her soon-to-be-empty nest]( Shelley Cameron-McCarron admits that she shines at mothering but not at letting go. A recent trip to Ireland with her 17-year-old daughter provided ample opportunity for both, she writes. When Leah graduates high school next month, she will follow her sisters out the door to university, and the family nest will be empty. [Amid the premature heartache, there’s also plenty of joy — and maybe signs that a mother is ready for more](. UP CLOSE Melchior DiGiacomo Ron Ellis hit the ice for the Maple Leafs in the early 1960s and never left, becoming one of Toronto’s longest-tenured players despite a club foot and bouts with depression. Damien Cox pays tribute to one of hockey’s unsung heroes, [who passed away this weekend at 79 years old](. SEE THIS Matthew Murphy Joshua Chong recently surveyed some of the buzziest new musicals and plays on Broadway, including a handful with strong connections to Canada, like the sensational “Stereophonic,” with original music from former Arcade Fire member Will Butler. [Here are the shows to bookmark ahead of your next NYC trip](. Thanks for reading (especially you, Mom). If any readers spot me at the Sporting Life 10K finish line this morning in neon orange shorts… no you didn’t. You can reach the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_213623), and we will see you back here Monday. Get unlimited digital and ePaper access Newsletter exclusive offer: Now only $49.99 for 1 year [Get This Offer]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](