Unescorted trips into the Tri-Cities could be in the future for child killer Allan Schoenborn.
This week, the BC Review Board issued an order that allows the director of the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam to decide whether the man who killed his three kids can be allowed escorted and unescorted trips.
But he must meet several conditions, including that he take a urine test to ensure he’s not using drugs or alcohol and that he stay away from members of his late wife's family.
Despite the conditions, the decision does not ease the concerns of advocates for the family of Darcie Clarke, including brother Mike Clarke and others.
“The fact that, yes, some family members do live in the community, there is concern he will go after them but the concern that is more likely, anyone who he deems offending him could be attacked,” said Dave Teixeira, who speaks for the family.
However, Schoenborn’s lawyer Rishi Gill cautioned the public to read too much into the decision as it doesn’t grant unescorted leaves but instead gives the director discretion to make a decision about granting the community trips “after thorough vetting and a recommendation from the treatment team.”
“People have to remember these unescorted absences or escorted abbesses they aren’t get out of jail passes. These things are made so that they are part of the treatment plan,” Gill said.
In testimony Thursday, a hospital psychologist said Schoenborn had made progress in learning to deal with his anger and had developed insight into his behaviour. Robert Lacroix said Schoenborn had already made 20 escorted trips into the community that were “unremarkable.”
He also said Schoenborn had been involved in violent incidents involving another patient, in which extra security had been called, but in those cases Schoenborn had been provoked, the psychologist said.
Teixeira, who attended the hearing, said Schoenborn wasn’t ready for to be allowed out in the community but told The Tri-City News it wasn’t a surprise that the order was expanded to allow unescorted trips at a director’s discretion because of increasing freedoms that Schoenborn has been granted over the last few years.
“When you hear about the actions in the last year, you can’t help think this man is violent, this man isn’t really for these privileges,” Teixeira said.
Among his concerns is that people on passes from the hospital occasionally fail to return on time and the community isn’t always notified.
As well, he said the family wants to be told when Schoenborn is out in the community but that request hasn’t been granted.
In addition to not using alcohol or drugs, except as approved by a medical practitioner, Schoenborn is not allowed to possess or use any firearm, explosive or offensive weapon. He must also keep the peace and be of good behaviour, and present himself before the review board when required.
It’s not known when Schoenborn would be given the opportunity to go on unescorted trips, if at all, but during the hearings, Lacroix said he would expect him to go on more escorted trips first to see how he manages and the unescorted trips would be for counselling or occupational health appointments, not leisure purposes.
