Kerry Sim, who was known as Kelly Ellard at the time, is seen leaving a Vancouver courthouse in 2000. In 2005, she received a life sentence for the second-degree murder of Reena Virk. The Canadian Press
Kerry Sim, formerly known as Kelly Ellard, has lost her day parole. The Parole Board of Canada made the decision after she failed to follow the rules of her release. Sim, now 42, served time for the killing of 14-year-old Reena Virk in 1997. The case shocked the country and drew international headlines.
Positive Drug Test Sparks Trouble
The board said Sim failed a drug test. The result showed methamphetamine in her system. Sim denied using drugs and claimed her medication caused a false result. Despite her argument, the board didn’t believe her. They said she refused to accept responsibility for her actions.
Officials stated that Sim still holds harmful values. They said she shows signs of anti-social behavior and is at high risk of repeating past mistakes. They explained that when Sim doesn’t follow even the minimum rules, she becomes a bigger danger to the public.
A Look Back at the Crime
Sim was only 15 when the killing happened. She and a group of teens attacked Reena Virk under a bridge in Victoria. After a brutal beating, Sim followed Virk to the Gorge waterway and drowned her. Sim’s case later moved from youth court to adult court. After three trials and several appeals, she received a life sentence in 2005 for second-degree murder.
Warren Glowatski, who also took part in the crime, got full parole in 2010. Sim’s role, however, was considered more serious.
Ongoing Struggles and Setbacks
Sim is a mother of two. The board noted she has been under emotional stress. She faced challenges with her child’s behavior and ongoing custody disputes with her former partner. Sim also expressed fears after a recent TV miniseries aired about the crime.
This isn’t her first parole problem. She first got day parole in 2017 and slowly gained more freedom. But in 2021, she tested positive for codeine, and her parole was pulled.
In January, things worsened. After the methamphetamine test, a warrant went out for her arrest. When police found her, Sim resisted. The board report said she screamed, kicked, and refused to cooperate. While in jail, she threatened suicide and damaged property. She also said she wouldn’t return to federal prison.
Parole Board’s Final Decision
The board saw Sim’s recent actions as proof she can’t safely live in the community. Her refusal to follow rules and manage emotions led to the decision. They ruled she poses a serious risk to the public.
They stated clearly: “The Board must be satisfied that you will not, by reoffending before the expiration of sentence according to law, present an undue risk to society.”
