A Calgary man convicted of killing his wife in 2005 has been granted unescorted temporary absences from prison, according to documents obtained by News Talk 770 Friday.
Robert William Bell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving a life sentence in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years for the Aug. 2005 murder.
He had been denied day parole after his first request in December and lost an appeal of that decision in May.
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Tanya Gordon’s body was found in her Ogden neighbourhood home, where court heard she had been strangled and smothered while their children were inside the house.
Bell left two of his children in Calgary and fled the province with his son, spurring a Canada-wide warrant. Bell and his son were eventually stopped near Moose Jaw, Sask.
The Parole Board has agreed to the conditional passes after a hearing last week. The idea is for him to reconnect with family and start the re-integration process.
The board calls the absences “well structured,” offering adequate reporting requirements, which include checking in with both RCMP and his parole officer.
Bell will be given one 72-hour pass each month for six months in order to spend time with his stepmother. He’ll have to be with another pre-approved family member when he’s not with her.
The documents note Bell’s behaviour has been positive in minimum-security prison over the last three years, suggesting he’s capable of functioning with a certain amount of freedom.
Bell is eligible for full parole in Sept. 2017.
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