Reena Virk’s killer granted day parole
Ellard, now 35, has spent 15 years in prison for beating, drowning B.C. teen in 1997
ABBOTSFORD, B.C.— Two decades after 14-year-old Reena Virk was savagely beaten and drowned in the Victoria area, her killer has been granted conditional approval for day parole.
Kelly Ellard, 35, wiped away tears on Thursday as a two-member panel granted her day parole for six months. She’ll first have to complete a residential treatment program for substance abuse during that term.
Panel member Colleen Zuk said Ellard was largely responsible for Virk’s death in a crime she described as “heinous.”
“It’s very problematic in your case that there have been years and years of deception, of lying about the facts,” Zuk said. “Today we found that you continued to somewhat minimize.”
However, Zuk said she found Ellard to be more transparent than she’d been in the past, and acknowledged that Ellard had done trauma counselling and had the support of her case management team, who described her as making significant progress.
After six months, the parole board will review the decision. Ellard will be subject to conditions including that she not use drugs or alcohol or contact anyone involved in crime or Virk’s family.
Ellard has served about 15 years in prison, having spent time out on bail. She was convicted of second-degree murder in 2005 after three trials and is serving a life sentence.
Mukand Pallan, Virk’s grandfather, said the family has been waiting for an apology for 20 years.
“If she has admitted fully her guilt, and she has said sorry, I don’t think there’s anything else we can ask for.”
Warren Glowatski was also convicted of second-degree murder and granted full parole in 2010.