Curfew partially lifted for young Medicine Hat killer

CALGARY – A young woman convicted of murdering her Medicine Hat family when she was just 12-years-old will no longer have to obey a court-imposed curfew on weekends.

The girl, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared before a judge in Medicine Hat on Thursday, via CCTV from Calgary.

Now 20-years-old, she has been serving a ten-year sentence since being convicted of murdering her mother, father and young brother in 2006 with her then-boyfriend Jeremy Steinke.

Her lawyer had previously argued his client – known only as ‘JR’ – is a ‘poster child’ for how young offenders can be rehabilitated.

During a sentence review last year, a judge denied a request to have her nightly 11:30 p.m. curfew lifted.

However on Thursday, a judge agreed to lift JR’s 11:30 p.m. curfew on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Both the Crown and defence had requested her curfew be lifted completely, saying it’s an impediment to her bonding with friends and forming relationships she will need once she has completed her sentence.

The judge felt they should still take “baby steps” as they increase JR’s freedom.

The partial curfew lift is not considered a reward for good behaviour, but a test to see how she handles normal stressors as she transitions to complete freedom in May 2016.

JR’s next review of her curfew is scheduled for February 12th, 2015.