Rick Stiebel/B次元官网网址 staff
For the family of Iris McNeil, the agony, anguish, torture and trauma will not diminish with the passing of another parole hearing.
The morning of Dec. 5 will mark the third time members of McNeilB次元官网网址檚 family will travel from the mainland to attend a parole hearing for James Shortreed, the man who brutally murdered Iris on July 23, 1997, said Crystal Brendzy.
B次元官网网址淚 had never been to a prison before,B次元官网网址� she recalled regarding that first time she attended a hearing for Shortreed with her father, aunt and uncle at William Head Institution in 2012. B次元官网网址淲e got into a van at the main building and had to drive past all these little townhouses, it was nothing like what I imagined,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淚 will never forget the prisoners looking at us as we drove through the grounds and got out of our vehicle. I remember going into a room where the hearing took place and he was in the room, sitting 12 feet away from us. It was extremely unsettling. That was the first time we all got to share our victim impact statements.B次元官网网址�
Shortreed was seeking unescorted temporary absences (UTAs) to attend a 60-day program, a situation which would have resulted in him having unsupervised time, Brendzy said. The application was denied because the parole board decided Shortreed wasnB次元官网网址檛 ready. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e thankful it was denied, but the impact of being in the same room and hearing him speak was so devastating and indescribable,B次元官网网址� Brendzy said.
The family attended another hearing in 2016, this time for ShortreedB次元官网网址檚 application for escorted temporary absences (ETAs). The application was granted, which meant any further requests for the same type of pass would be granted without a hearing, based purely on approval by the warden, Brendzy explained.
B次元官网网址淥ur position has not changed,B次元官网网址� Brendzy said. B次元官网网址淭his hearing is just as important, if not more important than the one six years ago. My brother Ryan is coming from the Middle East to attend because itB次元官网网址檚 absolutely that important to him. He would do anything for my aunt. ItB次元官网网址檚 getting harder and harder because we know ShortreedB次元官网网址檚 getting closer to a hearing for full release, and this UTA hearing is another step in that process. WeB次元官网网址檙e not advised of what heB次元官网网址檚 asking for until weB次元官网网址檙e in the room for the hearing. Generally, I manage to stay on top of things, but there are times when it just overwhelms me.B次元官网网址�
Lisa Saether, regional manager community relations and training for the Parole Board of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Pacific region, said although the board cannot comment on specific cases, she could provide some specifics on procedures and policy.
UTAs can be authorized for community service, medical reasons, family contact and personal development, Saether said. Parole board members must examine two criteria when assessing the risk in applications. Those include whether there is undue risk to society, and whether the UTA will facilitate the offenderB次元官网网址檚 reintegration into the community. Some of the examples for granting UTAs include attending improvement programs such as substance abuse programs, technical training programs and counselling sessions. B次元官网网址淭he board can impose conditions we deem necessary and reasonable to protect society,B次元官网网址� Saether said.
Shortreed and BrendzyB次元官网网址檚 aunt had been married for only a month when he bludgeoned her to death while she slept and stuffed her body in a freezer. Brendzy said no one in the family, including her aunt, knew about ShortreedB次元官网网址檚 violent criminal history, which included assault, rape and forcible confinement. B次元官网网址淢y aunt was not his first and only victim,B次元官网网址� she stressed. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 believe she would be his last if heB次元官网网址檚 granted UTAs.
B次元官网网址淭he emotional and physical toll starts with the letter notifying us of the hearing, revising our victim impact statements, communicating with the parole board, making arrangements for the trip. For myself, I have a responsibility to stand up or whatB次元官网网址檚 right and protect my family and the women in Victoria.B次元官网网址�
At least the family wonB次元官网网址檛 have to drive past prisoners staring at them again this time because their request to have the hearing held in the main building at the front of William Head has been granted. B次元官网网址淚 understand that many other families have expressed their concern with that as well,B次元官网网址� she added.
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