Out of horrible tragedies can come heartwarming stories of change and redemption. Such is not the case with Kelly Ellard, who killed 14-year-old Reena Virk in 1997.
Ellard is scheduled to attend her first day-parole hearing today, seven years after the Supreme Court of sa国际传媒 rejected an appeal of her second-degree murder conviction. Parole makes sense when a person has accepted responsibility for her crime, has shown remorse and has embarked upon a better path. The hearing is a chance for Ellard to show she has done these things.
Virk, a troubled girl seeking acceptance, had been beaten by a group of teenagers after being lured to the Craigflower Bridge. She extricated herself from her attackers and tried to make her way across the bridge, but was followed by Ellard, 15 years old at the time, and Warren Glowatski, then 16. They dragged her under the bridge and attacked her again; Glowatski watched as Ellard held Virk鈥檚 head under water. Her body was found nine days later.
During his trial, Glowatski denied involvement in Virk鈥檚 death. When he was found guilty of second-degree murder in 1999, the judge said Glowatski鈥檚 evidence was 鈥渃onveniently incomplete and improbable,鈥� as well as 鈥渟tunningly casual and completely unbelievable.鈥�
When the verdict was rendered, Glowatski showed no remorse, offered no apology. He received an automatic life sentence, with the chance of parole in seven years.
In the years following his conviction, Glowatski grew and matured. He fully admitted his role in Virk鈥檚 death and showed remorse. After being given day parole in 2007, he frequently spoke to students and at-risk youth about avoiding a criminal path.
Much of his renewal has come through the help of Suman and Manjit Virk, Reena鈥檚 parents. They took part in a restorative-justice session with Glowatski in 2006.
The Virks heard him take responsibility for his actions, and they forgave him. Their support was critical as he has travelled the difficult road from convicted killer to free man.
Ellard鈥檚 is a different story entirely. Virk鈥檚 parents have said they want to forgive Ellard, who has never publicly admitted killing their daughter, but they say that process can only begin when they see that Ellard has made improvements in her life.
When we last heard about Ellard鈥檚 state of mind, there was little evidence of positive change. Ellard underwent three trials and a Supreme Court appeal before finally being convicted. During that time, she had ample opportunity to take responsibility for her actions, but maintained she had nothing to do with Virk鈥檚 death, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
She had her bail revoked in 2004 while living in a halfway house awaiting trial. She was charged with assault causing bodily harm of an older woman in a New Westminster park. The charges were stayed after she was found guilty in the Virk trial.
Court documents in 2005 said Ellard was a belligerent and often abusive inmate, who had violent outbursts that included throwing food and kicking chairs.
Her lawyer described her as 鈥渁 person everyone loves to hate.鈥� Not everyone hates her, but people hate what she did, hate the pain she caused to Virk鈥檚 family and her own family. They hate that she hasn鈥檛 show remorse for what she did.
Ellard came of age in prison. It would be a waste of a human life to keep her there; it would be gratifying to see her begin to lead a constructive life.
Forgiveness and understanding have their limits. A show of remorse without corresponding action would not be enough, but it would be a good start.
Ellard has had the opportunity to change. Let鈥檚 hope she takes that opportunity.
