Parole Revoked for Kelly Ellard, Convicted in Drowning of Reena Virk

The Parole Board of Canada has announced the revocation of day parole for Kerry Sim, who is better known as Kelly Ellard, in connection to the drowning of Victoria teenager Reena Virk nearly three decades ago. The board found that Sim violated her parole conditions, specifically the requirement to refrain from using drugs, following a positive test for methamphetamine. Although she contests the test result, claiming it was a false positive due to her medication, the decision underscores her continued patterns of anti-social behavior and lack of accountability for her actions, positioning her as a potential threat to society.

Sim, who was sentenced as a young offender but later had her case escalated to adult court, has been through extensive legal battles, resulting in a life sentence for second-degree murder in 2005. The tragic incident took place in November 1997 when 14-year-old Reena Virk was brutally attacked by a group of teens, culminating in her drowning by a 15-year-old Sim in the Gorge waterway. The brutality of the event and subsequent judicial proceedings attracted widespread media attention, with descriptions labeling Virk as a helpless victim amid a savage assault orchestrated by Sim.

As a single parent to two children, Sim has faced emotional challenges, particularly concerning one child's behavioral issues and custody disputes with her former partner. Moreover, she expressed safety fears linked to a recent television miniseries about the incident, titled "Under The Bridge," which aired last year. This is not the first occurrence of her parole being revoked; her initial day parole was granted in 2017 but was rescinded in July 2021 following a positive codeine test. Recent actions have further complicated her situation, leading to a warrant being issued for her arrest due to non-compliance with parole conditions, during which she exhibited disruptive behavior while in police custody.

The board’s decision references her troubled conduct during her time in provincial custody, indicating a pattern of emotional instability, aggression, and threats of self-harm. All these factors contributed to the board's conclusion that Sim poses a significant risk of reoffending, emphasizing their responsibility to ensure public safety before considering any future parole opportunities.