Kelly Ellard, now known as Carrie Sims, was convicted of the 1997 murder of 14-year-old Rina Wirk in Saanich. Her daily parole was extended for another six months.
The woman convicted of the 1997 murder of 14-year-old Rina Virk in Saanic has continued on parole for another six months.
Kelly Ellard, now 39 and a mother of two named Carrie Marie Sim, was 15 when she killed Wirk, keeping her head underwater near Craigflower Bridge. She began serving her life sentence for second-degree murder in 2005.
She first received a one-day parole in November 2017, but was returned to custody last August after failing to report violence from an intimate partner, and was again paroled in October.
Sim waived his right to a full parole hearing. She said she did not seek full parole because “I am not situationally ready”, according to the decision of the Parole Board of Canada.
The drowning in November 1997 followed Elard’s decision to confront Wirk over her comments about a friend, which led to a “swarming and prolonged attack”, according to the parole board’s decision.
Ellard, who was 15 at the time, eventually dragged Wirk unconscious into the water and held her head for about 10 minutes, leading to her death, the ruling said.
The board said Sim still has “significant needs” and requires the structure and supervision of a community housing facility – which full parole does not provide.
“To your credit, you readily acknowledge that you are not ready for a more expanded form of release at this time.
Conditions for Sim’s ongoing parole include not consuming alcohol or drugs other than prescription drugs after psychiatric treatment for anxiety and other mental health problems, and following treatment plans for things like individual counseling.
Sim has shown resilience, stability and compliance since winning parole in October, the board said.
“There is no reliable or convincing information to show that you are behaving badly or that you have violated any of your special conditions.
The board said Sim considered herself “committed” to her remediation plan and that she was not currently working but would like to find work.
“It is estimated that you have a medium potential for responsibility, motivation and reintegration,” the board said.
It states that his findings lead to the conclusion that Sim does not pose any “unjustified” risk while on parole and that this will contribute to her development as a “law-abiding citizen”.
jbell@timescolonist.com
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