by Carolyn Tytler

Created on: February 26, 2008

What if your brother comes to you one evening and confesses he has committed a murder? He acknowledges he has deliberately taken the life of another human being. He got into a fight with a fellow from work at the neighbourhood pub. He choked his adversary until he stopped breathing, and then hit him over the head with a poker from the wood stove, crushing his skull. He shows no sign of remorse. He needs help to get out of town, and asks for your car.

You are in a state of shock. Your brother has always had a problem with anger management, but you never thought he would be capable of killing. You need time to think. You offer him the use of your basement bedroom for the night while you fill the car's tank with gas and pack some supplies. He needs time to sober up, his speech is slurred and his eyes are wild and bloodshot. If he tried to leave now, he'd be nabbed for drunk driving, and the jig would be up.

You have two choices: wait until he's asleep and then call the authorities and turn him in , or give him the car and send him on his way. You have several hours to consider your options. What should you do?

If you help him escape, your mother and the rest of the family would be spared the shame and the publicity of having a criminal in the family. Nothing you can do will bring the victim back now anyway. Besides, as long as you can remember, he's been your little brother and you've looked out for him. He has no doubt you'll help him now. He trusts you. Can you bring yourself to betray that trust?

If you turn him in, the future promises to be unbelievably horrendous for you and your family. You can almost see the glaring headlines, family photos and nauseating details of the crime in the local paper. There will be long years of visits to prison, of trying to explain to your kids why their uncle is in jail, of ducking your head every time you come home to avoid curious glances and probing questions from the neighbours. The publicity will be so far-reaching that you may have to leave your job and move out of town. Perhaps it would be best to give him wheels, send him on his way and hope he makes a clean getaway.

What will happen to him then? His anger problem will remain unresolved. He may kill again. Next time you must assume partial blame because you had the chance to stop him, and didn't take advantage of it. With one murder, committed while drinking, he may have a chance for rehabilitation and eventual parole. With more than one, he'll face a lifetime behind bars. It's not an easy decision, but you have no choice.

"Little Bro, believe it or not, I'm still looking out for you," you murmur as you pick up the phone and start to dial the sheriff's number.

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