Killer can leave prison to visit family
Man has maintained innocence since 1992 murder, but has history of violence
A man convicted in a brutal 1992 murder in Creston has been granted unescorted temporary absences from prison to visit his siblings.
Duray Richards, 60, has maintained his innocence in the slaying of Carrie Louise Marshall, a young mom dumped in the bush in December 1992 after being raped and beaten. He has lost all his appeals but has made a last-ditch effort to get a new trial by appealing directly to the federal justice minister with the support of law students from the University of B.C.’s Innocence Project.
No decision has been made.
Richards has accepted responsibility for a series of earlier convictions for sex assault and other acts of violence against women.
Parole board members Delaine Dew and Sue Perry said in an Oct. 15 decision that Richards has “made progress on your key dynamic factors” and has the potential to be reintegrated after serving more than 25 years in prison.
“You have completed programming aimed at addressing your issues, risk factors, with noted gains and demonstration of skills,” the parole board said.
“You have a positive work ethic and employable skills. You have worked on creating healthy relationships and have the support of your family.”
Dew and Perry noted that both Richards’ brother and sister — singer Jann Arden — are positive influences on the convicted killer and could help him reintegrate if he is eventually granted parole.
“You have completed ETAs (escorted temporary absences) to your sister’s residence and you would like to do so on UTAs (unescorted temporary absences) now,” the board members said in their written decision.
“This is considered the next step in a gradual reintegration.”
The board members said in order to approve the community visits, they had to determine that Richards doesn’t “present an undue risk to society during your absence.”
They assessed his release plan and also considered his behaviour while incarcerated.
“Applying these criteria to the factors in your case, the board authorizes the UTAs for family contact for a period of six months,” they ruled. The ruling also said that Richards’ parole officer described his “horrible criminal history” and mentioned that he has “no acknowledgment of guilt.”
But the parole officer said that Richards has insight into the risk factors that led to his earlier attacks. He has “evolved from an angry substance abuser to someone who is working towards positive change,” the officer told the board.
Richards admitted that he was once a “very angry person and females were seen as vulnerable and able to be overpowered. Sextrade workers were more vulnerable as they may not be believed or missed,” the board members said.
“Your crimes were committed to get a sense of power and control, and you were under the influence of alcohol. You stated that you struggled in relationships with women and that you could not open up unless you were intoxicated and then your anger came out as well,” Perry and Dew said.
“You told the board that now you have a very different perception of the women that you assaulted. You see the damage that your behaviour has caused not only to your victims, but to their families and your family as well.
“You stated that you are offended when you hear others speak about women in a derogatory fashion. You have regret and remorse for your past actions, and wish that there was a way to make amends.”
The board imposed special conditions on Richards’ community visit because of his violent history with women.
“Due to the nature and extent of harm done to your victim and the possibility of continuing impact, you will avoid all contact, direct and indirect, with the victim’s family,” the ruling said.
“You have a history of repeated violence against sex-trade workers, therefore, you are not to have any contact with sex-trade workers to manage your risk. You have a history of violence against women, therefore, it is essential that you are open and transparent with your parole supervisor about all relationships.”
He has also been banned from using any intoxicants while on his periods of release.
You see the damage that your behaviour has caused not only to your victims, but to their families and your family.