Makes third appearance before Parole Board of Canada.
A parole officer revealed this to the Parole Board of Canada while making a recommendation, on behalf of Correctional Service Canada, that Bernardo, 60, be denied both day and full parole for a third time.
The parole officer said Bernardo’s first choice is to be released to a halfway house in St-Jérôme and that his second choice would be one in Montreal.
The parole officer also said CSC does not recommend that Bernardo have permission to take part in escorted or unescorted leaves.
Bernardo is serving an indefinite sentence for the abductions and murders of 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy, of Burlington, Ont. in 1991 and 15-year-old Kristen French, of St. Catharines, Ont. in 1992. He also admitted to crimes he was not convicted of and conceded he sexually assaulted about 20 girls and women between the ages of 14 and 23, between 1987 and 1992, and that he sexually assaulted and caused the death of his former wife Karla Homolka’s sister, Tammy, while she was drugged.
Debbie Mahaffy — the mother of Leslie Mahaffy — delivered a statement to the board in person.
Kristen French’s mother, Donna, delivered a statement remotely. She attempted to deliver it through a video conference but had difficulty connecting to the hearing room in Quebec. She instead had to read her statement over a phone.
“They says that time heals. I don’t believe that for a second,” the mother said, after noting how Bernardo robbed her of seeing her daughter dressed in a white wedding gown.
“We’re not here to retry you,” said Steven Dubreuil as the hearing began. He is the parole board member who will lead the hearing.
Dubreuil also said the board will have four decisions to make on Tuesday, including whether Bernardo is ready for day or full parole. Bernardo is also seeking permission to have access to unescorted leaves, a chance to leave the penitentiary for a couple of days.
Bernardo will be represented by lawyer Bianka Savard-Lafrenière during the hearing.