A B.C. man who kidnapped and murdered a 10-year-old lady in Surrey 24 years in the past was denied day parole on Wednesday.
Shane Ertmoed is serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of Heather Thomas in October 2000.
Thomas vanished whereas enjoying outdoors in Cloverdale, prompting a large police and volunteer search. Her physique was discovered weeks later in Alouette Lake in Maple Ridge.
Ertmoed was arrested that November, and confessed he had tried to sexually assault the lady, then strangled her when she fought again.
Jody Aspin, Heather’s mom, attended the listening to in particular person on Wednesday to learn a sufferer affect assertion and stated it was the primary time she had the possibility to precise herself to her daughter’s killer’s face.
“For as soon as I rattled his chains. I really feel that it was useful for me to take action. And it bought my level throughout for as soon as in the direction of him. I believe he lastly for as soon as heard me after 24 years,” she stated.
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“I achieved what I needed to do … I did this for my daughter. That is all for my daughter. And if there’s another little one I may also help to have this not occur to them.”
Ertmoed was granted escorted go away from jail in 2021, and was searching for unescorted day passes at Wednesday’s listening to.
Rebecca Darnell, the sufferer’s household’s lawyer, stated the parole board was not satisfied.
“They underscored the truth that he was misleading in addition to manipulative,” she stated.
“He additionally in the present day admitted that he had intentionally murdered Heather when she had resisted in order that she wouldn’t be capable to complain and he wouldn’t endure any penalties.”
Aspin stated her daughter’s killer continued to attempt to paint himself in the absolute best gentle.
At one level, she stated, he provided an apology to the parole board itself, and “the folks within the again” — his sufferer’s household.
“Simply one other lie, simply one other joke he performs to control and victimize us,” she stated.
Ertmoed shall be legally eligible to use for full parole in 2027.
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