NS man in prison for ‘unprovoked, brutal’ murder only gets 2 months

A Nova Scotia man with a history of violent assaults against women, including a murder, is released from prison on a two-month pass to prepare for his eventual, full release.

Antonio Edward Lavoie, 63, was convicted of second-degree murder for the 2004 murder of Sharon Ann Hatch, a crime described by the judge presiding over the case as “a sudden, unprovoked, brutal murder.”

Lavoie has been released from prison in the past short guided strides. But now Canada’s Probation Board has decided it’s time to give him more freedom to help him adjust to life outside prison.

He will be given two short passes for the two month absence to familiarize him with the community based housing facility where he will be staying.

And to make sure he doesn’t falter, the probation committee has placed restrictions on his freedom. They include abstaining from drugs and alcohol and reporting any relationship with women.

“You were abusing crack cocaine, prescription drugs and alcohol at the time of the current offense and you were also under the influence of intoxicants during your prior violent crimes,” the probation committee wrote in a recent decision.

“You are described as suppressing your anger and stress until you ‘blew up’.”

Teenager’s previous aggravated assault

Lavoie has a criminal history dating back to 1978, including a conviction for aggravated assault on a 16-year-old girl who refused his demand to take her clothes off.

He bludgeoned Hatch to death and left her body in the woods west of Halifax.

Lavoie pleaded not guilty to manslaughter until 2008. The sentence carried an automatic life sentence, and Judge Joseph Kennedy ruled that he would not be eligible for parole until 2025.

Kennedy wrote in his sentencing decision that the assassination had “no motive, no rationale, no explanation. Violence for violence’s sake.”

Lavoie started painting while in prison and told the parole board he hopes to persuade an art gallery to exhibit some of his work.

Police are against his release on the two-month pass and have been given a stipulation that Lavoie report to them three times a week while he is out.