Allan Schoenborn will be granted day passes to the community, after the province announced Friday that it will not appeal a decision made by the B.C. Review Board.
Schoenborn has been held in the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Port Coquitlam, B.C., since being found not criminally responsible for killing his three children in April 2008.
The family of Darcie Clarke, who is the children’s mother and Schoenborn’s estranged wife, released a statement Friday, saying she was disappointed with the province’s decision.
Minister’s statement: Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Suzanne Anton,
Q.C., has issued the following statement regarding the Criminal Justice
Branch’s decision to not appeal the B.C. Review Board decision to grant
Allan Schoenborn escorted leave:
” I know that this decision is very difficult for Ms. Clarke, for her family and for the public to understand and accept. What Ms. Clarke and her family have gone through should never happen to anyone, and they have my deepest sympathy. I have been advised that the CJB has spoken with Ms. Clarke’s family and her
representatives about its decision.
“I have spoken with Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada,
Peter MacKay about this particular case and we are committed to looking
at ways to ensure the safety and security of our citizens and our
communities. In fact, the federal government recently strengthened the
Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act to further enhance victim safety.
British Columbia was instrumental in calling for changes which permit
the B.C. Review Board to extend the review period for not criminally
responsible accused persons up to three years, instead of annually,
addressing the needs of the victims and public safety.
“I intend to continue our discussion in light of our experience in this
matter, to determine whether there are further legislative options to
explore to further ensure that the administration of justice is not
brought into disrepute by the terms of a particular decision, and to
assess the new public safety considerations.
“The CJB is currently assessing whether it can seek a high-risk
designation for Mr. Schoenborn, through the court, as outlined in the
Criminal Justice Branch’s media statement.