The woman who killed Reena Virk under the Craigflower Bridge in 1997 has been granted another six months of day parole.
Kerry Marie Sim, formerly known as Kelly Ellard, has been on day parole regularly since 2017 and has been living in a halfway house in the Lower Mainland as she raises the two children she had while in custody.
The Parole Board of Canada, in its latest decision on Oct. 9, noted Sim’s “continuing stable and co-operative behaviour on day parole over a significant period of time.”
The parole board also said that Sim has shown more accountability for Virk’s death that she originally had admitted to, demonstrating “some level of remorse and victim empathy.”
Sim is serving a life sentence for the second-degree murder of Virk, who was 14 when she was killed. Sim, who was 15, and a group of friends had invited Virk to the area, swarmed and beat her before she was dragged into the Gorge Waterway and held under the water by Sim until she drowned.
Sim is now 42.
The parole board said Sim was abiding by her release conditions, respectful of the rules of the community-based residential facility and was being accountable for her behaviour, associates and activities, and working with her case-management team.
“You are open to advice and generally responsive to feedback,” the board said. “There have been no concerns about substance use or negative peer influences. Importantly, you are fulfilling your responsibilities as a parent. Though you have yet to find employment, the board recognizes that this is difficult to do for a single parent when childcare is so expensive and balancing parental roles and work responsibilities so challenging.”
The board said Sim is currently not in a relationship with the father of her children.The documents also noted the community-based residential facility where Sim lives is not close to her mother, who is not readily available to watch her children.
The parole board said it determined in the previous hearing for day parole in April that Sim’s risk remained “manageable.”
Sim’s most recent psychological risk assessment in 2016 said she presented a moderate to high-moderate risk for future violence over the long term, and a relatively low risk over the short term. It said Sim’s risk would be on the higher end if she abused substances or associated with negative individuals, the parole documents said.
The board noted Sim’s stumbles with substance use and alleged domestic violence between her and her children’s father in 2021, but said she has displayed good behaviour over her last few terms of day parole.
“Despite the challenges you have faced, you have maintained your sobriety, raised your children alone and learned how to better manage your emotions.”
The parole board said case-management reports indicate that Sim is motivated to lead a “pro-social lifestyle” with her children in the community, find stable housing and suitable employment once she can find child care.
“The reports, however, [say] that you continue to struggle to reach these goals given your anxiety about the situation, and your frustration,” said the documents. “The [case management team] has encouraged you to stay focused on the future and work toward your long-term goals.”
The board noted there are victim impact statements on file, expressing the continuing stress and anxiety felt by a family member and their hope that Sim will accept responsibility for her actions.
Sim is under several conditions for day parole, including that she stay away from alcohol, drugs and those involved in criminal activity.
She is also barred from having any direct or indirect contact with Virk’s family and must report any sexual and non-sexual relationships to her supervisor.
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