An inmate, who is serving a life sentence for murder, has received 48 -hour unescorted leave from the Drumheller Institution Minimum Security Unit, prompting a member of a slain woman’s family to inform the community.
Robin Spooner is the sister in law of Stephanie Spooner, who in 1991, was slain by the hand of Bradley Paetsch, who is now known as Tristan Ryan. Stephanie was 16 years old at the time, and Ryan was 18. Spooner is concerned that he will be out on the street.
“You will have in your community a guy who has been convicted of first degree murder,” said Robin.
He was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. In 2010, he was granted ability to apply for parole by March 2014, two years earlier than his statutory date. According to reports at the time of this ruling, he has changed, and the Faint Hope Clause was suitable for him.
Robin tells The Mail he was just granted unescorted temporary absences.
“These are overnight, with no ankle bracelet, no monitoring, he does have some conditions attached to those.”
When Ryan became eligible for parole in 2014, he waived his right.
While he has now been granted these new terms of release, he has volunteered in the community during temporary escorted absences. He married while he was in prison.
He was granted the unescorted absences at a hearing in front of a judge, who ruled on September 8. Robin says a family member still attends these hearings.
According to the Parole Board of Canada Website, “The decision to grant or deny parole involves a thorough review of information and assessment of risk. The safety of the public is always the paramount consideration in all parole decisions.”
“I think it is something that is important that the community knows, especially when it is somebody who has been convicted of such a horrendous crime,” said Spooner.
