Parole expanded for Kelly Ellard, killer of B.C. teen, Reena Virk
Posted August 11, 2020 3:56 pm.
Last Updated August 12, 2020 7:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER – Day parole has been expanded for Kelly Ellard, the woman convicted of killing 14-year-old Reena Virk near Victoria in 1997.
A decision from the Parole Board of Canada released Tuesday says Ellard, who now goes by the name Kerry Sim, can live away from her residential facility for up to five days a week.
RELATED: Day parole extended for Kelly Ellard, killer of Reena Virk
Ellard was 15 when she and a group of teens beat Virk and then she and an accomplice followed the injured girl, beat her again and drowned her in the Gorge waterway.
Five conditions for her day parole remain, including that she not consume alcohol or drugs, that she follows her treatment program and not associate with anyone involved in crime.
The latest decision suggests that Ellard is only at risk of re-offending if she violates orders to stay away from drugs or alcohol and her behaviour has been good since she was first granted day parole.
“You committed the murder with another person and you have demonstrated a propensity to engage in criminal behaviour when in the company of others. If you associate with anyone involved in any kind of criminal activity or substance abuse, your own risk to re-offend and relapse will increase. You must avoid any person involved in any kind of illegal activity and any kind of substance abuse,” the decision to Ellard reads.
“These special conditions are specific to your risk to re-offend and as such are both necessary and reasonable in your case to reduce that risk and to protect the public. They are imposed for the duration of your day parole unless they are modified or removed by a future Board.”
Ellard is now in her late 30s, has two children, and the board says her relationship with her spouse is a stabilizing factor for reintegration.
While Ellard had a history of violent behaviours until 2009, she later participated in a number of programs to help her.
“Reports indicate that you have learned to control your emotions and impulsivity, you were able to identify your risk factors and triggers and you demonstrate insight into your high-risk situations,” the decision says. “You have also engaged in counselling to address issues of trauma. Further, you completed your GED, several vocational training programs and non-core programs. You regularly maintained employment in the institution for several years prior to the birth of your son.
“Your post offence behaviour was extremely callous. Your early institutional behaviour was problematic as it included issues with substance misuse and violent behaviour. However, to your credit, you have demonstrated increased accountability for your actions and there have been no concerns related to substance misuse or violent behaviour for many years.”
The high-profile case went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada before Ellard was convicted and given a life sentence for second-degree murder.
