ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — A young woman convicted of second-degree murder has for the first time taken responsibility for the brutal killing of a 14-year-old girl almost two decade ago, but Kelly Ellard's confession wasn't enough to earn her day parole.
In her first parole hearing since the Supreme Court of Canada reinstated her conviction, Ellard told a parole board panel she had omitted details about Reena Virk's death from her testimony during trial.
She admitted to the board on Tuesday that if she hadn't been there Virk would probably be alive today.
When asked by a board member who was responsible for Virk's death, Ellard said "I believe I am."
She also agreed that without her participation the murder wouldn't have happened.
A board member commended her for accepting more responsibility, but noted her admission didn't come close to the level of murder she was convicted of in court.
"I was 15 years old. I was a child," Ellard told the parole board. "I'm not that child anymore."
In November 1997, Ellard and a crowd of mostly girls swarmed Virk under a Victoria-area bridge. After the beating, Virk limped across the bridge, followed by Ellard and Warren Glowatski. The pair then continued the beating and held Virk's head underwater until she drowned.
Glowatski, who was also convicted of second-degree murder, was given full parole in 2010.
The now 33-year-old Ellard told the board she wanted day parole so she could get treatment for substance-abuse issues after using contraband crystal meth inside prison.
Her parole officer discouraged the board at the start of the hearing from granting Ellard day parole because of those very same substance troubles.
Ellard was given a chance to make a last statement to the board.
"I've done everything and then some. Enough is enough," she said. "It's time for this to be done."
She believes there's nothing left for her in prison that would help her move forward and make progress, she added.
But it was her own words that cemented the parole board's decision.
While the board emphasized the progress Ellard had made in accepting responsibility for the murder, it also said she came across as entitled in expecting to be released.
The next time Ellard will be allowed to ask for full parole is February next year.
