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Reena Virk's killer granted extended day parole for another 6 months

Kelly Ellard, now Kerry Sim, has been granted a further six months of parole
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Day parole has been extended for Kelly Ellard, now known as Kerry Sim, who was convicted of murdering 14-year-old Reena Virk in 1997. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

Kerry Sim, formerly known as Kelly Ellard, who was convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of Reena Virk in 1997, will continue her day parole for another six months.

Sim, now 42, along with a group of other teenagers, beat 14-year-old Virk before Sim and her co-accused Warren Glowatski drowned her in the nearby Gorge Waterway, and she later bragged about the murder to her friends, according to the Parole Board of Canada.

In 2005 Sim was given a life sentence for the murder, and in 2017 she was granted periodic day parole after the board determined her release would not present an undue risk to the community.

"Over the past few terms of day parole, you have been busy taking care of your children, with little time to work or address your own areas of need. You have connected with resources through the [Ministry of Children and Family Development] and were assigned a social worker and parental support worker, who continue to connect with you and provide you with advice and support," noted the board's decision, which was made on Oct. 9.

Her most recent psychological risk assessment was completed in 2016, which concluded that she has a moderate to high-moderate risk for future violence over the long term, and a low risk over the short term. The decision noted that the risk would be on the higher end if she abused substances or associated with "negative individuals."

Though the board noted her struggles with substance abuse and domestic abuse, notably in July 2021, she was given a medium rating in the areas of accountability, motivation and reintegration potential, and she remains engaged with her correctional plan.

Her case management team reported many areas in her life require improvement, however, she has remained compliant with all imposed and general conditions of her release, she regularly communicates with members of her case management team and she is open to discussing challenges and stressors in her life.

Her parole conditions include not consuming drugs or alcohol, having no contact with certain people including the victim's family, following her treatment plan and reporting any relationships. 

Sim resides at a community-based residential facility, or halfway house, in the Lower-Mainland.

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Bailey Seymour

About the Author: Bailey Seymour

After a stint with the Calgary Herald and the Nanaimo Bulletin, I ended up at the Black Press Victoria Hub in March 2024
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