A decision by the Parole Board of Canada says 40-year-old Kerry Sim, who was formerly known as Kelly Ellard, has been authorized to remain on day parole, but with several conditions. Sim was 15 when she and a group of teenagers cornered and beat Virk, and her trial heard she and a co-accused later followed the 14-year-old girl to continue the beating and drown her in the gorge. The parole board’s decision released on Friday says Sim has remained focused on her two sons since her parole was revoked in August last year due to drug and alcohol use and evidence of violence with her children’s father. Day parole was reinstated last October and the two-judge panel now says Sim has made progress in her reintegration, although there is concern that when she is dealing with multiple stressors it may lead to poor decision-making. In addition to the conditions imposed not to use drugs or alcohol and not have contact with certain people, the board ordered Sim to undergo psychiatric treatment to deal with her anxiety and other mental health issues. The board also recommends that she look for work, saying in the decision that she appears unwilling to take the necessary steps to find a job. Sim’s case management team also recommended an extension of her daily parole, the decision states. “You have positive community support from your mother, staff (family community) and your partner’s family. The same special conditions currently in place are recommended for this new period of day release.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 16, 2022.
