Notorious murderer and serial rapist Paul Bernardo has applied for day parole, news that was devastating for the families of his victims and perhaps shocking for other Canadians. As is its practice, Correctional Service Canada sent letters last week notifying the families of murder victims Leslie Mahaffy, 14, and 15-year-old Kristen French of the application. Their lawyer, Tim Danson says while it is Bernard’s right to apply for parole, there is no chance he will ever be released from prison.
Bernardo was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 25 years for raping and murdering Mahaffy and French. After admitting to raping 14 other women, the court designated him a dangerous offender.
Protection from “the most dangerous violent and sexual predators”
This is a legal term in the Criminal Code of Canada which the government says “is intended to protect all Canadians from the most dangerous violent and sexual predators in the country.” An offender who is designated by the court as a dangerous offender may be sentenced to an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment with little likelihood of ever being released on parole.
Canada abolished the death penalty in 1998. “Dangerous offender” is currently the most severe designation in Canadian Law.
Accomplice ex-wife is free
Bernardo’s wife, Karla Homolka at the time, made a plea bargain and was convicted to 12 years in prison for what she said was her unwilling role in the two assaults and murders. Videotapes were later found that showed she was a more active participant.
Homolka was released from prison in 2005 after serving the full term and she eventually moved to the Caribbean where she lived with her new husband and three children. Testifying in a separate court hearing last October, her sister said she has moved back to the Canadian province of Quebec.
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