The Parole Board of Canada says it will review a condition that bans Robert Latimer from leaving the country without permission.
A Federal Court judge ruled last month that there is nothing to indicate the 60-year-old is a danger and should be prevented from freely travelling outside Canada. The judge ordered the parole board’s appeal division to reconsider the case.
A spokesman for the board said Tuesday that the appeal division recently decided that there was “sufficient information” to warrant a review.
“In making its decision, the board is required to consider all relevant, reliable and persuasive information including the reasons provided by the Federal Court,” said a decision released by the board.
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“The board’s exercise of its discretion must not be inconsistent with the protection of society and limited to only what is necessary and proportionate to the purpose of conditional release.”
A single board member, who was not part of the panel that heard Latimer’s case last year, is to conduct the review.
The board spokesman said the member is likely to look at Latimer’s file and conduct an in-office review, although he or she does have the option of scheduling a hearing with Latimer. There is no timeline set for the appeal decision.
Latimer was convicted in 1997 of the second-degree murder of his 12-year-old daughter, Tracy, who had severe cerebral palsy. He had placed her in the cab of his truck on his family’s farm near Wilkie, Sask., and piped exhaust inside.
Latimer has always said he wanted to end his child’s chronic, excruciating pain.
He received the minimum life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years, despite a jury recommendation that he serve less time. He was released on full parole, with some conditions, in 2010.
The board denied Latimer’s request last year to leave Canada without first applying for a limited-time passport. He appealed that ruling and it was upheld by the board’s appeal division. He then took his case to the Federal Court in Vancouver.
Latimer’s lawyer, Jason Gratl, has said that if the travel restriction were lifted, Latimer would still inform his parole officer of travel plans and maintain contact by phone while abroad.
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