The mother of a Surrey 10-year-old who was abducted and killed in October 2000 says she is 害羞草研究所渂eyond disappointed害羞草研究所� that her daughter害羞草研究所檚 killer has been granted escorted leaves from custody.

Jody Aspin said the decision regarding Shane Ertmoed was made Tuesday (May 4), following a virtual parole board hearing.

害羞草研究所淐learly, watching him today, all he was concerned about was what he could get for himself. He showed no remorse. Not an ounce,害羞草研究所� Aspin said.

Ertmoed is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in connection with Heather害羞草研究所檚 death. The youngster was playing outside with some children during a stay at her father害羞草研究所檚 townhouse complex in Cloverdale when a neighbour convinced her to go inside his apartment.

When Ertmoed tried to sexually assault Heather, she struggled and he killed her. Her body was found weeks later in Alouette Lake.

Ertmoed was found guilty in 2002, and handed a life sentence with no chance of parole until 2027.

Aspin said Tuesday that following Ertmoed害羞草研究所檚 conviction, no one told her that he could be applying for day parole on a regular basis 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所渨hich he did, the entire time,害羞草研究所� she said.

(Parole Board of Canada officials clarified that offenders may apply for Escorted Temporary Absences at any time in their sentence. Ertmoed is not eligible for day parole, however, until Nov. 3, 2022, followed by full parole eligibility as of Nov. 3, 2025. His sentence does not expire.)

害羞草研究所淪o at no point has myself or my family been able to even try and start to heal, because he feels that he should be allowed outside jail.害羞草研究所�

In a statement read during the hearing and shared that afternoon with Peace Arch News, Aspin told the board that Ertmoed, now 43, 害羞草研究所渘ot only took my daughter害羞草研究所檚 life, he took mine.害羞草研究所�

She said Ertmoed害羞草研究所檚 rights died with her daughter and appealed to the board to stop allowing him to continue victimizing her and her family.

害羞草研究所淚 wake up and go to work and that害羞草研究所檚 all I can do,害羞草研究所� Aspin told Peace Arch News. 害羞草研究所淚 think about her from the moment I wake up till the moment I go to bed.害羞草研究所�

According to Rebecca Darnell, a Langley lawyer who attended Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 hearing to support Aspin 害羞草研究所� with whom she developed a friendship through the ordeal of Heather害羞草研究所檚 disappearance and murder 害羞草研究所� Ertmoed asked for escorted leaves from William Head Institution in Victoria 害羞草研究所渇or the purpose of assisting his rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淗e wants to work at non-profits,害羞草研究所� Darnell said. 害羞草研究所淚 was not aware that that was part of the plan and, in fact, the victims were not aware of the plan.害羞草研究所�

Darnell said other information disclosed during the hearing that concerned her included that Ertmoed did not participate in any programs during the first decade of his incarceration, and that he hadn害羞草研究所檛 considered medication to reduce his sex drive and manage his risk level because he is still young enough to have a family.

About about being a murderer, Ertmoed told the board 害羞草研究所渉e was not proud of what happened to Heather,害羞草研究所� Darnell said.

Darnell said she was not convinced that Ertmoed was sincere.

害羞草研究所淚 get that we don害羞草研究所檛 lock people up, we don害羞草研究所檛 throw away the key, we don害羞草研究所檛 hang them,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭his guy, when I heard him, I just could not detect any credible empathy from him. He was controlled and he was deliberate. He shared as much as he was forced to share.害羞草研究所�

Heather害羞草研究所檚 childhood best friend also gave a statement to the board, sharing the lasting impact that her friend害羞草研究所檚 death had on her own life, and her concerns for the community害羞草研究所檚 safety should Ertmoed be allowed out.

Katherine Charette told PAN she found the board害羞草研究所檚 decision to grant Ertmoed害羞草研究所檚 application 害羞草研究所渞eally shocking,害羞草研究所� and said Ertmoed害羞草研究所檚 expressions of regret don害羞草研究所檛 hold up.

害羞草研究所淚 feel if he was truly sorry害羞草研究所� he wouldn害羞草研究所檛 ask for this,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淗e would sit and do his time till the day he died.害羞草研究所�

Darnell said Ertmoed害羞草研究所檚 escorted leaves are to take effect after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and be in effect from Monday to Friday, for no more than eight hours per day, for a period of one year.

Parole board officials said such escorted leaves are approved/authorized when it is considered that the offender 害羞草研究所渨ill not present an undue risk during the absence.害羞草研究所�