VANCOUVER 鈥� A senior federal cabinet minister has launched a scathing attack on a review board鈥檚 decision to grant escorted outings to a British Columbia man who killed his three children.
Industry Minister James Moore issued a statement Saturday saying the decision to grant Allan Schoenborn the privilege is an 鈥渋nsult.鈥�
Schoenborn has been held in a psychiatric facility since being found not criminally responsible for the 2008 killings of his 10-year-old daughter Kaitlynne and sons Max, 8 and Cordon, five.
The B.C. Review Board ruled Friday that Schoenborn鈥檚 illness has been in remission for many years.
Its decision came despite being cautioned by the Crown to heed new federal legislation giving them the power to hold mentally ill offenders indefinitely.
Schoenborn鈥檚 ex-wife Darcie Clark wants her former husband declared a 鈥渉igh risk鈥� offender and Moore says the B.C. government should take a look at how such cases are dealt with in the future.
鈥淥ur hearts go out to Darcie Clarke and her family in this difficult time,鈥� Moore said in the statement.
鈥淭his decision by the B.C. Review Board is an insult and cannot be defended. It should prompt the B.C. Government to review and reform this area of our justice system to better protect victims and our communities.鈥�
B.C. Justice Minister Suzanne Anton said Friday that her 鈥渉eart goes out鈥� to the family but added it鈥檚 important to respect the review board鈥檚 independence, which is established under the Criminal Code.
The Crown has 15 days to decide whether to appeal the decision.
The board noted that prior to any outing, Schoenborn鈥檚 mental stability and any risk he might pose would be assessed.
