Parole board to hear serial killer Paul Bernardo’s latest bid for release

The Parole Board of Canada is once again faced with the difficult decision of whether to release Paul Bernardo, the notorious serial rapist and murderer responsible for some of the most heinous crimes in Canadian history. Bernardo is currently serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder of teenagers Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, with assistance from his then-wife Karla Homolka. He has been designated as a dangerous offender, a title reserved for Canada’s most violent criminals.

Tim Danson, the lawyer representing the families of French and Mahaffy, recently expressed frustration that they were denied the opportunity to deliver their impact statements in person at Bernardo’s parole hearing. However, after facing backlash, the Parole Board of Canada announced that they were exploring ways to accommodate the mothers.

Debbie Mahaffy, the mother of Leslie Mahaffy, will be attending the hearing on behalf of the families, while Kristen French’s mother Donna will be presenting her statement virtually due to the short notice of the hearing. This decision has sparked further debate about the rights of victims’ families in the parole process.

Bernardo has previously been denied full and day parole in 2018 and 2021. Danson has been advocating for changes to the parole process to spare victims’ families from having to relive their trauma every few years. He believes that families should have the right to confront their loved ones’ killer in person.

In addition to the murders of French and Mahaffy, Bernardo was also convicted of manslaughter in the death of his 15-year-old sister-in-law, Tammy Homolka. Karla Homolka served a reduced sentence of 12 years for her involvement in the killings, which sparked controversy and criticism in the media.

Despite his horrific crimes, Bernardo was recently transferred from a maximum-security facility in Ontario to a medium-security institution in Quebec. This move stirred up public outrage and renewed calls for reforms in how dangerous offenders are managed within the correctional system.

Following a review of the transfer, the Correctional Service Canada acknowledged that the families of the victims should have been better informed. This acknowledgment highlights the importance of transparency and communication in cases involving high-profile and sensitive matters like Bernardo’s parole hearing.