Homolka may get pardon in just weeks
Posted Jun 16, 2010 7:41 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Karla Homolka may soon be applying for a full pardon.
There are reports that the schoolgirl killer may make the application in less than three weeks, and has a good chance of being successful in her bid.
Homolka plea-bargained a 12-year manslaughter sentence for her role in the murders of Ontario teens Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy in the early 90’s.
Homolka committed the murders, along with her serial killer husband Paul Bernardo, who is deemed a dangerous offender and may never be released from prison.
Homolka was released from jail in 2005.
Sources have told CTV, Homolka is able to seek her pardon on July 5th and that she does intend to make that application.
She will likely get approval, unless legislation before the House of Commons passes before summer break, which is set to begin as early as Thursday.
That legislation aims to block violent or serious offenders from ever getting a pardon.
The Harper government wanted speedy approval when the bill was introduced in May, but it’s being held up by the NDP and Bloc Quebecois.
The proposed changes came about after it was discovered earlier this year that former junior hockey coach and convicted sex-offender Graham James was given a pardon in 2007.
Most convicts who apply get approval, as long as they have stayed out of trouble and display good conduct.
If they get the status, it doesn’t mean their criminal record is erased, although it is easier for them to travel abroad or get a job.
To give you an idea of how many convicts get a pardon, last year there were only 800 rejections from 40,000 applications.
