Killer Lamb ordered to stay in halfway house another year

Shawn Lamb, who received statutory release in the fall after serving time for killing two Winnipeg women in 2012, must continue to live in a halfway house for at least another year.

The 66-year-old gained statutory release in November after serving two-thirds of his sentence for two counts of manslaughter. He was ordered to live in a halfway house or psychiatric facility for at least six months because he would otherwise pose an “undue risk” to reoffend, the Parole Board of Canada said.

In a May 11 decision, officials ordered that he continue to live at a halfway house — in an unspecific Ontario community — for 365 days.

He must continue to obey a number of other conditions, including that he not consume alcohol or drugs and must report all sexual and non-sexual relationships with women to his parole officer.

The Winnipeg Police Service charged Lamb with three counts of second-degree murder in 2012. In a plea deal, he admitted to manslaughter in the deaths of Lorna Blacksmith, 18, and Carolyn Sinclair, 25, both of whom were Indigenous.

He denied killing Tanya Nepinak, who was 31 when she disappeared in 2011. The charge against him in connection to her death was stayed; the Crown cited a lack of evidence.

He was sentenced to 20 years, including two years of credit for time served, in 2013. Statutory release, which is legislated, is a conditional release most federal inmates automatically qualify for after serving two-thirds of their sentence.

Lamb’s departure from prison sparked outrage and fear from the families of his victims, who rallied in downtown Winnipeg on the day of his release.

Premier Wab Kinew said in November Lamb’s release was “not justice.”

Lamb went to a halfway house in an unspecified location and was transferred to a federally run community corrections centre a week later, the new parole board decision said.

In mid-February, he was transferred to a halfway house in Ontario, where he remains.

Parole officials said he has used his time on statutory release “productively,” by volunteering, getting involved with a church and taking a prescription drug that treats opioid addiction.

The decision said Lamb, originally from Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Ontario, has connected with an Indigenous community liaison officer and has worked with community and professional supports.

“You are described as continuing to prioritize your health management, and you have not committed any breaches or raised concerns over a possible return to substance use,” reads the May 11 decision.

“The (Correctional Service of Canada) stress that while you have been doing well in the community, you have only been back in it for a relatively brief amount of time.”

He has a “very poor” history of violating past release conditions, the decision notes.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca