One of three men convicted in a gruesome double homicide in Tsawwassen three decades ago has again been denied full parole.
In a recent decision released by the Parole Board of Canada, Derek Lord will instead see his day parole extended for another six months. His day parole has several conditions including not travelling to Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland.
A case management team also recommended extended leave privileges for 14 days out of a community residential facility to be spent in a family home and two days in the community residential facility.
Lord and friend David Muir were hired by Darren Huenemann to kill his mother and grandmother, Sharon Huenemann and Doris Leatherbarrow, so he could get a multi-million dollar inheritance.
The three teens lived in Saanich at the time of the murder and at trial the prosecution argued that on Oct. 5, 1990, Huenemann and his girlfriend dropped Lord and Muir off at the ferry terminal.
The pair then went to Leatherbarrow's Tsawwassen home and, after being invited in for dinner by the two women, bludgeoned and stabbed them to death. The two teens then took the ferry home and were picked up by Huenemann and his girlfriend.
All three were convicted in 1992.
Lord, now 49, and Muir were both sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years. Huenemann received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years
After his conviction, Muir, who pleaded not guilty at trial, admitted his role in the murders and has been out on parole for years. He was granted day parole in April 2002 and full parole a year later.
The board granted Lord day parole in March 2020 and that has been continued at six-month intervals since that time.
Lord also continues to claim he is innocent, something noted by the parole board.
His continued conditions include having no direct or indirect contact with the victims’ families including extended family members. The board noted the condition was imposed to protect the victims who continue to tell the board how harmful it would be to have unwanted contact with him.
“There are many victim impact statements on file. Victims have consistently and repeatedly sent letters to the Board objecting to any form of release for you. They are concerned for their own safety and fear that you are a danger to society. Victims have described the trauma, horror, and significant negative impact that the murder of their loved ones has caused them,” the parole board stated in its July 2022 decision.
The board also noted Lord has been in the community without concern and that he is abiding by release conditions, meeting supervision expectations and working closely with his case management team.
He also found meaningful employment and is supporting his wife and son, while continuing to be engaged in counselling and work with an elder and Indigenous cultural activities as time and commitments allow.
The board also noted that before further leave privileges can be allowed, an updated psychological assessment of his risk to re-offend on a full parole release is required.
“This report should identify the key risk issues in your case, the effect of your continued denial on the management of your risk, and how your risk factors can be safely managed on a parole with limited external risk monitoring strategies available,” the board stated.
