Kelly Ellard鈥檚 admission of some responsibility in the death of Reena Virk is a step forward, but the Parole Board of Canada was right to reject her application for day parole.
Fourteen-year-old Virk was swarmed by a group of teenagers at the Craigflower Bridge on Nov. 14, 1997, then beaten and drowned by Ellard, who was 15 at the time, and Warren Glowatski, then 16.
Both were tried as adults, and both initially denied killing Virk, but after he was sent to prison, Glowatski admitted his role in the teen鈥檚 death. Both were sentenced to life in prison without parole for at least 10 years. Glowatski, who worked to turn his life around, was paroled in 2010.
Through three trials and a Supreme Court appeal, Ellard continued to deny killing Virk. At her parole hearing Tuesday, she told the board that Virk would still be alive if she hadn鈥檛 participated in swarming and drowning her. It鈥檚 the first time she has admitted guilt.
The parole board learned that she has made progress. She has a good work record and is deemed at low risk to re-offend. But board member Ian MacKenzie was concerned that she has not admitted to the version of the killing that came out in her trials.
Her admission of guilt is welcome, but it comes 18 years too late for all the pain and heartache she caused. But perhaps even her grudging admission can speed the healing process for all involved.
