High speed chase ends in Padawan's death

By Zegra Tandly
Coruscant News Network

CORUSCANT - A speeder chase ended tragically yesterday when Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Apprentice to Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, vaulted out of an open cockpit airspeeder, plummeting to his death.

"I was shocked. I'm still shocked." -- Master Obi-Wan Kenobi

"We were chasing a being that had made an assassination attempt on Naboo Senator Amidala," Kenobi explained to Republic officials.

"My Padawan made a hasty decision - without my consent - to take a 'short cut.' We ended up losing him [the assassin]," Kenobi said. Over the years, Skywalker has earned a reputation for rash decision making.

After losing the assassin, Anakin reportedly looked "quite dejected and annoyed." His last recorded works were, 'If you'll excuse me.' Then he jumped over the side of the speeder, plummeting to his death.

"I was shocked. I'm still shocked," Master Obi-Wan Kenobi told Coruscant News Network.

"I guess the pressure of being a Jedi Apprentice got to Anakin and he decided life wasn't worth living anymore. Sometimes this business can get quite stressful," Kenobi admitted.

When asked if the Padawan's suicide had any correlation with Skywalker's unusually late start at Jedi training, Kenobi declined to answer.