Dad who killed kids not high risk: judge

The Canadian Press
Geordon Omand

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C.–A man who underwent a psychotic break and murdered his three children as they lay asleep in their beds does not pose enough of a threat to the public to be labelled high risk, a British Columbia Supreme Court judge has found.
Justice Martha Devlin said yesterday that while Allan Schoenborn continues to struggle with serious anger management issues, the deaths of his children relate to his mental health problems, which have lessened since he started treatment while in custody following his conviction in 2010.
“Without his mental disorder, Mr. Schoenborn would not have committed these abhorrent acts,” Devlin said.
“Because his mental disorder is in remission, there is no basis on which to conclude that Mr. Schoenborn is highly likely to cause grave physical and psychological harm.”
Devlin buttressed her ruling with references to Schoenborn’s current mental condition and the opinions of psychiatric experts, all of which she said point to the low likelihood of a relapse.
A designation of high-risk accused would have barred Schoenborn from escorted outings into the community and would have extended the time between his review board hearings from one to three years.
Schoenborn killed his 10-year-old daughter, Kaitlynne, and sons, Max and Cordon, aged eight and five, in the family’s home in Merritt in April, 2008.
He eventually was found not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.
The murder trial heard Schoenborn was experiencing psychosis at the time of the killings and believed he was saving his children from sexual and physical abuse, though no evidence suggested this was the case.
Stacy Galt, a cousin of Schoenborn’s ex-wife, buried her face in her hands and sobbed as Devlin read her judgment.
Speaking outside court, Galt questioned the decision.
“If Allan won’t be high-risk designation, then who will qualify for high-risk designation?” she asked, her hands and voice shaking as she cried.
“Our fear is real. What he did was heinous,” she said. “And he shouldn’t be able to walk the streets.
“He should be in care for the rest of his life.”
Mike Clarke, Schoenborn’s former brother-in-law, read a statement written by his sister, Darcie Clarke.
In it, Schoenborn’s ex-wife described the judge’s decision as “shameful” and “disappointing,” and said the justice system had failed her and her family.