Parole extended for Saanich, B.C. murderer Derik Lord
The Parole Board of Canada (PBC) has extended parole privileges for Derik Lord, a Saanich, B.C., man who was found guilty of killing a friend's mother and grandmother for promised inheritance money and property.
Lord has been allowed to stay four nights a week at the home of his spouse and son, before returning three nights a week to a halfway house, according to a parole ruling released Jan. 6.
Lord was first granted day parole in 2020, following the murders of Sharon Huenemann and Doris Leatherbarrow in their Tsawwassen, B.C., home in 1990.
The pair were killed after inviting Lord and his friend, David Muir, into their home for food.
PAROLE CONDITIONS
Lord's parole conditions include having no contact with the victims' families, as well as a restriction on travelling to Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland.
Lord had requested that he be given permission to travel to Chilliwack, B.C., to visit friends of his spouse, however, that request was denied due to concerns from people who have provided victim impact statements related to the brutal killings.
"Victims state that they would be afraid if you were permitted to be so close to their communities and that some of them travel to Chilliwack from time to time and would be afraid and harmed if they ran into you there," reads the parole ruling.
The PBC says Lord's parole is progressing relatively well, with Lord – who identifies as Metis – attending an Indigenous community residential facility, where he participated in a trauma and addictions recovery program.
Elders have also reported that Lord continues to participate in cultural activities and support, according to the PBC.
However, the parole board notes that Lord continues to deny his role in the 1990 killings, adding "complexity" to assessing his risk.
"The murders were gratuitously violent, planned, and carried out in the home and safe haven of the victims who had apparently offered you kindness just moments before you killed them," reads the parole extension ruling. "This weighs heavily in the board's decision."
The board also acknowledges that it's received several letters asking for Lord not to be released.
"Victims have consistently and repeatedly sent letters to the board objecting to any form of release for many reasons, including that they are afraid of you and they feel you are a danger to society."
Lord, now 48, was a teenager at Mount Douglas Secondary School at the time of the 1990 murders.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.