A man who killed former News Talk 770 (then CHQR) sports director Billy Powers and his wife Donna Lee in 2013 is getting some freedom. However, there will be no absolute discharge for Derek Puffer.
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A hearing by the Alberta Review Board at Alberta Hospital in Edmonton last month said Puffer is doing well but should continue to be detained.
The board has granted him unsupervised passes to malls near the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre in Calgary to attend programs. He can also get passes for up to two nights of supervised, overnight leave in Calgary.
In 2014, Puffer was declared not criminally responsible (NCR) for the stabbing death of his parents. The judge ruled Puffer had no control of his actions as he suffered from schizophrenia.
The Alberta Review board said Puffer’s multiple episodes of schizophrenia are currently in full remission, as is a major depressive disorder.
During the court proceedings, doctors testified that Puffer should be on anti-psychotic medication for the rest of his life. Puffer testified that voices in his head were commanding him to stab his parents.
With files from Global’s Nancy Hixt