Family of Terry Blanchette, Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette ‘disappointed’ in parole eligibility change
A woman related to two Alberta murder victims is speaking out in the wake of a decision that transformed the parole eligibility for Canada’s multiple killers.
Derek Saretzky was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder in the 2015 deaths of Terry Blanchette and his two-year-old daughter Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette in Blairmore, Alta., as well as Hanne Meketech in Coleman, Alta.
He was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 75 years, but a decision from Alberta’s Court of Appeal decided that he would be eligible for parole in 25 years.
Before the change, Saretzky would have been 97 before he could apply for parole. Now he will be 47.
In a statement to CTV News, Terry’s sister and Hailey’s aunt said she is “very disappointed” in the decision.
“What was done to my two-year-old niece and my brother and Hanne was cruel and unusual,” said Amanda Blanchette DeSteur. “Why should people who do horrendous things like this be allowed to have hope for a life again? Bring back capital punishment and forget their hope.”
The Supreme Court’s decision centred Alexandre Bissonnette, the gunman who killed six worshippers at a mosque in Quebec City in 2017 and was initially sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 40 years.
Bissonette's sentence has been changed to allow him to be eligible for parole in 25 years.
However, a Supreme Court of Canada decision determined life sentences with no real chance of parole are "cruel and unusual” punishment.
Similar decisions were made in two other multiple murder cases in Alberta – Edward Downey, who killed Calgary mother Sarah Baillie and her daughter Taliyah Marsman, and Jason Klaus and Joshua Frank, who murdered three members of Klaus’ family in 2013.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.